
Photo by: Farrah Chernov
Bobcats Set To Welcome Iona On Saturday
1/12/2024 5:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Quinnipiac Bobcats (6-7, 3-1 MAAC) vs Iona Gaels (6-7, 1-3 MAAC)
Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 | 4:00 PM
M&T Bank Arena | Hamden, Conn.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Statistics: Sidearm Stats
In-Game Updates: @QU_WBB
All-Time vs. Iona: Quinnipiac leads series, 12-9
Last Meeting vs. Iona: L, 47-42 (Jan. 14, 2023)
HAMDEN, Conn. – The Quinnipiac women's basketball team returns home to take on the Iona Gaels in Hamden. Tip-off from M&T Bank Arena is set for 4 PM and can be seen on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
SCOUTING THE GAELS
DIV. I HISTORY VS. IONA
LEADER OF THE PACK
JUST WIN BABY, WIN!!
THAT 70s SHOW
CLOSING TIME
LOCKING UP
BOBCATS DOWN PEACOCKS
OPENING MAAC PLAY WITH A WIN
FOLEY LEADS 'CATS PAST HOLY CROSS
BOWEN AT THE BUZZER!
WELL, THAT WAS FUN
CAPTAIN JACK
BACK ON THE BLOCK
GRACE THE ACE
BRAND NEW BOBCATS
FABULOUS FOLEY
HERE COMES K-MART
GNARLY GIRARDI
MAGIC MARIA
TENACIOUS THOMPSON
EPIC EMMA
SENSATIONAL SOLLENNE
C'MON BARBRI LET'S GO PARTY
WELCOME HOME SAMMY G
PRESEASON ACCLAIM
NEXT TIME OUT
To stay up to date with all Quinnipiac women's basketball news, follow the program on Twitter/Instagram @QU_WBB or visit www.gobobcats.com/wbb.
Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 | 4:00 PM
M&T Bank Arena | Hamden, Conn.
Watch: ESPN+
Live Statistics: Sidearm Stats
In-Game Updates: @QU_WBB
All-Time vs. Iona: Quinnipiac leads series, 12-9
Last Meeting vs. Iona: L, 47-42 (Jan. 14, 2023)
HAMDEN, Conn. – The Quinnipiac women's basketball team returns home to take on the Iona Gaels in Hamden. Tip-off from M&T Bank Arena is set for 4 PM and can be seen on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
- Ella O'Donnell led the way with 15 points as the Bobcats fell to the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers, 56-50.
- O'Donnell shot 5-10 (50%) from the field and was 5-6 (83%) from the free-throw line.
- Grace LaBarge came off the bench and scored 12 points and Ava Sollenne added nine.
SCOUTING THE GAELS
- Iona is led by Angelika Szumilo, who boasts six wins in her first season at the helm.
- Iona enters the matchup at 6-7 on the season and 1-3 in MAAC play.
- The Mountaineers have lost two of their last three games, averaging 56.7 points per game in that span.
- Iona is coming off a 72-44 road loss to the Fairfield Stags. Sierra DeAngelo led the way with 10 points, earning six of those at the free-throw line. DeAngelo also led the team with five rebounds.
- The Gaels are allowing opponents to score 63.1 points per game, while allowing them to shoot 39.4 percent from the field and 31.2 percent from three.
- Natalia Otkhmezuri leads the way for the Gaels, averaging 12.3 points per game. Sierra DeAngelo is right behind her, averaging 12.2 points per game.
DIV. I HISTORY VS. IONA
- Saturday's matchup will mark the 22nd matchup between the Bobcats and the Gaels in program history.
- The Bobcats are 12-9 all-time against the Gaels.
- Thursday marks the first matchup since Jan. 14, 2023.
- The last time the two sides faced off, Quinnipiac fell to Iona by a score of 47-42.
- Cur'Tiera Haywood led the way with 11 points and six rebounds.
- Jackie Grisdale and Ella O'Donnell added five and four points, respectively.
LEADER OF THE PACK
- Head coach Tricia Fabbri is in her 29th season at the helm of the Bobcats in 2023-24.
- A five-time Coach of the Year and all-time winningest coach in program history, Fabbri has totaled 509 career victories, thus far.
- With the win over Mount St. Mary's on Feb. 16, 2023, Fabbri became the 90th coach in Div. I women's basketball history to reach 500 career wins and the 22nd to accomplish the feat at one institution without coaching at another.
- Of her 509 wins, 494 have come in Quinnipiac's Div. I era.
- With 20 wins in 2022-23, Fabbri secured the program's 12th straight winning season under her guidance.
- Fabbri's Bobcats have reached the 20-win plateau in 12 seasons, including a run of eight straight seasons from 2011-2019.
- With five NCAA Tournament appearances along with five WNIT berths, Fabbri has led QU to 10 postseason national tournaments in her tenure.
- She has led Quinnipiac to five conference titles in the last 11 seasons and earned five consecutive MAAC Regular Season titles from 2015-2019.
JUST WIN BABY, WIN!!
- M&T Bank Arena, home of the Quinnipiac Bobcats, has long been one of the most difficult arenas to play at in the country.
- Since the 2012-13 season, Quinnipiac owns a record of 129-28 (.822) in games played at home.
- In that same span, the Bobcats own a mark of 94-15 (.862) in conference play (NEC & MAAC) at home.
- Quinnipiac owns a 130-60 (.684) mark since November 22, 2017.
- The Bobcats stand with a mark of 84-15 (.848) at home in league games since joining the MAAC in 2013-14.
- The Bobcats are 77-12 (.865) at M&T Bank Arena in conference games since the start of the 2014-15 campaign.
THAT 70s SHOW
- Since the start of the 2014-15 campaign, the Bobcats are 118-37 (.761) in games where they score at least 70 points.
- During 2017-18 (20-0), 2016-17 (16-0), 2012-13 (18-0), and 2010-11 (8-0), the Bobcats compiled undefeated records in each respective season when reaching the 70-point scoring plateau.
CLOSING TIME
- Quinnipiac has enjoyed a great deal of success over the past four seasons when building a first-half lead.
- After starting 2016-17 with a mark of 2-0 when owning a halftime lead, the Bobcats saw one of their most impressive streaks in program history come to an end in a 71-68 loss at Temple.
- The undefeated streak, which lasted throughout three seasons, came to an end at 46 straight wins for the Bobcats when holding a halftime lead.
- Quinnipiac went undefeated in both 2014-15 (24-0) and 2015-16 (19-0) and for the first two games of 2016-17 before suffering the defeat.
- Overall, the Bobcats own a mark of 161-16 (.910) since the start of 2014-15 in games in which Quinnipiac leads at the half.
LOCKING UP
- Aside from the two contests against nationally ranked opponents, Quinnipiac did not allow an opponent to score more than 69 points in a game in 2022-23.
- Quinnipiac did not an opponent to reach 70 points in 27 straight games, before having its streak snapped by Harvard on Nov. 12, 2023.
- Quinnipiac has not allowed an opponent to reach 70 points in 35 of its last 43 games, dating back to last season.
BOBCATS DOWN PEACOCKS
- The Quinnipiac Bobcats defeated the Saint Peter's Peacocks by a score of 50-39 on Thursday afternoon on Kids Day.
- Martin led the Bobcats with 17 points and added three rebounds.
- Karson shot 50% (7-14) from the field in 33 minutes of action.
- Quinnipiac forced 28 Peacock turnovers.
- The first half saw the two teams trade buckets as they went into the locker room at the half tied at 17.
- The two sides continued to trade points in the third quarter, but saw the Bobcats take a one point advantage into the final quarter.
- The Bobcats' lead grew to as much as 13 as Reiven Douglas knocked down both free-throws.
- Quinnipiac was able to knock down seven of their next 11 free-throws to help seal the win.
- The Bobcat defense came up big, allowing just 39 points in the win.
OPENING MAAC PLAY WITH A WIN
- Grace LaBarge knocked down the game-winning three with just five seconds on the clock as the Bobcats defeated Rider, 60-57.
- Martin led the Bobcats with 20 points and added three assists and two rebounds. Martin shot 53.8% from the floor in 37 minutes played.
- The first half was all Bobcats as they went into the locker room at the half with a 30-18 lead.
- The Bobcats defense held the Broncs to just six points in the second quarter and 27.3% shooting.
- Rider crept back into the game and the two sides saw the game square at 47 with just under six minutes left to play.
- The two teams traded scores down the stretch and were tied at 56 with 48 seconds left.
- With just five seconds to play, Grace LaBarge knocked down a three to give the Bobcats the 60-57 win over Rider.
FOLEY LEADS 'CATS PAST HOLY CROSS
- First year forward Anna Foley led the way as the Bobcats defeated the Holy Cross Crusaders 66-63 on December 10th in Hamden.
- Foley led the Bobcats with 12 points and added nine rebounds, seven assists, a block, and a steal. O'Donnell added 12 points and shot 63% from the field.
- Quinnipiac came out firing, ending the first quarter up five and holding the Crusaders to 27.8% from the field.
- The Bobcats entered the locker room at the half with a seven-point advantage. QU was shooting 56.5% at the half, while holding the Crusaders to 41.4% shooting.
- Holy Cross crept back in making it a 58-58 ballgame with just over four minutes to go in the contest. Grisdale put the Bobcats back in front with a layup of her own.
- O'Donnell and Kealy would each make a basket and the Bobcats had a three-point lead with 21 seconds to go.
- Bri Bowen took a crucial charge to put her on the free-throw line where she would extend the lead, hitting both.
- After a Crusader three, Grisdale came down the court and knocked down a free throw to give the Bobcats the 66-63 victory.
BOWEN AT THE BUZZER!
- Sophomore wing Bri Bowen scored the game-winning bucket at the buzzer to lead the Quinnipiac women's basketball team past URI on the road, 61-59, inside of the Ryan Center on Nov. 30.
- Jackie Grisdale led the Bobcats with 16 points, while Paige Girardi added a career-high 15 points. Anna Foley contributed 14 points in the victory.
- The Rams held Quinnipiac scoreless the first 5:20 of the fourth, building a 53-46 lead in the process. However, the Bobcats responded with an 11-2 run to trim the deficit to take a 57-55 lead with 57.4 seconds left in regulation.
- After the Rams took a 58-57 lead, Grisdale got to the cup and made a layup giving the Bobcats a one-point lead. However, the Rams made a free throw to tie the contest at 59-59 to give QU a chance for the win with just under 20 seconds remaining.
- With a shot at a comeback win, Grisdale initiated the offense and nearly lost the ball on a double team. While falling, Grisdale shuffled a pass to Bri Bowen in the corner who knocked down the floater from the mid-range at the buzzer for the 61-59 win.
- Bowen's buzzer-beater landed at No. 9 on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.
WELL, THAT WAS FUN
- Quinnipiac women's basketball opened the 2023-24 season with a 13-point victory at home, downing America East powerhouse Maine, 70-57, on Nov. 6 inside M&T Bank Arena.
- With the win, the Bobcats open the season at 1-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
- Anna Foley scored 21 points in her collegiate debut. The most by a rookie in their QU debut in the program's Div. I history. Foley totaled 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks for the game.
- Jackie Grisdale added 17 points, while Ella O'Donnell recorded 16 points and five rebounds in the win.
- Karson Martin totaled nine points and four assists off the bench in her collegiate debut.
- Paige Girardi added seven rebounds and three assists to contribute to the victory in her collegiate debut.
- Newcomers Bri Bowen, Maria Kealy, and Kassidy Thompson all made their collegiate debuts in the win on Nov. 6.
CAPTAIN JACK
- With the title, Grisdale is the first singular captain in Quinnipiac's Div. I history and first under Fabbri during her 29 years at the program's helm.
- Grisdale was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team as announced by the league office as part of the inaugural MAAC Basketball Tipoff held at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
- Grisdale is averaging a career-high 14.1 points per game, while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 45.9 percent from three-point range.
- Grisdale's three-point field goal percentage is second in the MAAC and ranks 31st in the nation.
- Grisdale has reached double-figure point totals in all seven of Quinnipiac's contests this season.
- She tallied a season-best 24 points in Quinnipiac's contest against Towson in the Navy Classic on Nov. 26.
- Grisdale dropped 17 points to help lead Quinnipiac to a win over Maine in the season-opener on Nov. 6.
- As a sophomore last season, Grisdale started in all 30 games and averaged career-highs of 9.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.8 steals per game.
- Earning MAAC All-Rookie Team honors in 2021-22, Grisdale became the first player in program history to earn all-conference honors as a walk-on.
BACK ON THE BLOCK
- Sophomore Ella O'Donnell is primed for a breakout campaign, following a strong rookie year.
- O'Donnell is averaging 9.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
- O'Donnell is averaging career-high totals in points, rebounds, and assists.
- O'Donnell led the Bobcats with 15 points in their loss to the Mountaineers, while picking up 14 rebounds to led the team.
- O'Donnell picked up 13 points on 6-11 (55%) shooting in the Bobcats win over the Peacocks (1/4).
- O'Donnell was named to the Navy Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in two contests.
- O'Donnell opened the weekend with a career-high 22 points to go along with 11 rebounds for the first double-double of her collegiate career in Quinnipiac's contest against Navy on Nov. 25.
- She totaled 14 points and nine rebounds in the Bobcats' contest against Towson to wrap up the Navy Classic on Nov. 26.
- Earning MAAC All-Rookie Team honors, O'Donnell shined as a first-year for the Bobcats.
- O'Donnell appeared in all 30 games last season, making 15 starts.
- Last season she averaged 4.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.8 steals in 20.0 minutes per game.
- A native of Shankill, Ireland, O'Donnell is a member of the Irish women's basketball national team.
- This past summer, O'Donnell was a member of the U20 Irish National Team for the 2023 FIBA U20 Women's European Championship in Romania, where her team finished in sixth.
- O'Donnell averaged 10.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game during the tournament.
- She made her Irish senior women's national team debut at 18 years old in 2022.
GRACE THE ACE
- Junior Grace LaBarge emerged as a reliable two-way option for the Bobcats off the bench as a sophomore in 2022-23.
- LaBarge picked up 12 points in Quinnipiac's loss at Mount St. Mary's. She also picked up eight rebounds in the effort.
- LaBarge is shooting 77.3% from the free-throw line, which ranks first in the MAAC.
- In the MAAC opener at Rider, LaBarge knocked down the game-winning three pointer with just five seconds left on the clock.
- LaBarge is averaging career-highs of 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
- LaBarge scored a career-high 20 points against Princeton on Dec. 6.
- In the 20-point outburst against Princeton, LaBarge was a perfect 6-for-6 from the field, 3-for-3 from three, and 5-for-5 from the charity stripe.
- She averaged 8.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 41.7% from the field and 44.8% from three in over her last nine contests in 2022-23.
- She shot 37.0% from three-point range and knocked down 20 three-pointers, which ranked fourth on the team in 2022-23.
BRAND NEW BOBCATS
- Quinnipiac Head Coach Tricia Fabbri retooled her roster, bringing in eight newcomers, including a class of seven rookies.
- Fabbri's seven rookies are her largest class of first-years in her 29 years at the program's helm.
FABULOUS FOLEY
- Possibly the gem of the class, Anna Foley comes in as a first-year likely to play heavy minutes early on.
- On the season, Foley is averaging 11.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals per game.
- Foley tallied 13 points and five rebounds in the game against Manhattan (1/6).
- Foley helped the Bobcats to a victory over Saint Peter's (1/4) dropping eight points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
- Foley leads the team in assists, blocks per game, and rebounds, and steals, while ranking third in points.
- Foley has led the Bobcats in assists in nine of 13 games this season.
- Foley's 3.5 assists per game is tops on the team and ranks seventh in the MAAC.
- Her 1.50 assist-to-turnover ratio is the sixth-best among MAAC players.
- Foley ranks third in the MAAC in blocks (17) and second in blocks per game (1.31).
- Foley totaled 14 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for the first double-double of her collegiate career in Quinnipiac's contest against Towson on Nov. 26.
- Foley tallied 12 points, six assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and two steals against Vermont on Nov. 17.
- Foley tallied a career-high four blocks against Harvard on Nov. 12.
- Anna Foley totaled 21 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in her collegiate debut to help lead Quinnipiac past Maine in the season-opener on Nov. 6.
- Foley's 21 points in the opener was the most by a rookie in their QU debut in the program's Div. I history.
- Foley Graduated from Andover with four varsity letters in women's basketball.
- She scored 1,139 total career points at Andover.
- She averaged 16.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.5 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game as a senior en route to being named the 2022-23 Max Preps Massachusetts Basketball Player of the Year.
- A two-time Conference MVP, Foley helped lead Andover to two conference titles and two state championships.
HERE COMES K-MART
- A true point guard, Karson Martin looks to bring her tenacity to the backcourt in Hamden.
- Martin continues to have big games, scoring 19 points against Manhattan (1/6).
- Martin led the Bobcats with 17 points on 7-14 (50%) shooting in their win over the Peacocks (1/4).
- She tallied a career-high 20 points against Rider on Dec. 18.
- In her first collegiate start, Martin recorded two steals and tallied 11 points against the Crusaders (12/10).
- Martin is averaging 12.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, while shooting 42.5 percent from the floor.
- Martin scored nine points off the bench against Harvard on Nov. 12.
- Martin totaled nine points, four assists, and two rebounds off the bench in her collegiate debut to help lead QU past Maine on Nov. 6.
- Martin graduated from Woodstock High School with four varsity letters in women's basketball.
- She concluded her high school career with over 1,500 points scored and over 500 rebounds.
- As a senior, Martin led the state of Georgia in points and steals per game.
- A two-time First Team All-Region selection, Martin was also a two-time Second Team All-Region honoree and two-time Second Team All-County selection.
GNARLY GIRARDI
- The first of Fabbri's class to commit to QU, Paige Girardi comes in as a guard who can slot in at any spot in the backcourt.
- Girardi scored a career-high 15 points and played in all 40 minutes in Quinnipiac's 61-59 victory over URI on Nov. 30.
- Girardi grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists in her collegiate debut in the win over Maine on Nov. 6.
- Girardi graduated from Warwick Valley High School with five varsity letters in women's basketball and over 1,000 points scored.
- As a senior, Girardi averaged 20.6 points per game en route to being named the BCANY Player of the Year.
- Girardi owns Warwick Valley basketball records for most three-pointers made in a single season (77), most three-pointers made in a game (6), highest three-percentage (44%), and most points scored in a single season (425).
- A two-time All-BCANY First Team selection, Girardi was a BCANY All-Star Team selection and BCANY All-Tournament Team Selection as a senior.
- A two-time Class AA All-State selection, Girardi helped lead Warwick Valley to five division championships, and the 2021-22 Sectional and Regional Championship in 2021-22.
MAGIC MARIA
- A point guard's point guard, Maria Kealy joins the Bobcats from Donegal, Ireland.
- Maria continues to heat up as she scored seven points, tallied seven assists, and collected five boards in the Bobcats' win over Manhattan (1/6).
- Kealy had a career high seven points in Quinnipiac's win over Holy Cross.
- Kealy added three assists, for a season high, against Holy Cross (12/10).
- Member of the U20 Irish National Team for the 2023 FIBA U20 Women's European Championship in Romania.
- Kealy averaged 5.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game at the 2023 FIBA U20 Women's European Championship.
- Kealy made her Irish women's national team debut at 17 years old in 2021 for the U18 squad at the European Championships.
- Kealy served as vice-captain for Team Ireland U18 at the 2022 European Championships held in Bulgaria.
- Averaged 6.9 points, 7.4 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.1 steals per game for Team Ireland at the 2022 European Championships.
- She graduated from Loreto Letterkenny with four varsity letters in women's basketball.
- Led the Letterkenny Blaze to four consecutive Northwest League and Cup championships.
TENACIOUS THOMPSON
- A two-way wing, Kassidy Thompson aims to prove herself this season as a hard-nosed defender for the Bobcats.
- Thompson scored a career-high six points on 2-for-2 shooting from behind the arc against Holy Cross (12/10).
- Thompson graduated from Camden Catholic with four varsity letters in women's basketball.
- She concluded her high school career with 1,563 points scored, 548 rebounds, 152 steals, and 117 made three-pointers.
- Thompson was selected as a 2023 McDonald's All-American Nominee.
- She was 1 of 5 Finalists for the 2023 New Jersey Prep Girls Hoops Player of the Year as a senior.
- Thompson was selected to play in the 2023 Philadelphia All-American game, where she was named the game's MVP.
- Thompson hails from a family that has succeeded at the Div. I level for basketball.
- Her father, Michael, played basketball at Drexel.
- Her brother, Kyle, played basketball at La Salle, while her sister, Kennedi, played basketball at Binghamton and currently serves as a women's basketball assistant coach for Army West Point.
EPIC EMMA
- A stretch-four, Emma Carman comes to Hamden with a bunch of energy and is ready to hoop for the Bobcats.
- Carman Graduated from Red Bank Catholic with four varsity letters in women's basketball.
- She was ranked as the No. 9 player in her class via MaxPreps.
- Carman was a Second Team All-Shore selection as a junior.
- She was named as a WOBM Tournament First Team selection as a senior.
- Carman helped lead Red Bank Catholic to four conference championships.
SENSATIONAL SOLLENNE
- Ava Sollenne joins the Bobcats as a walk-on guard for the 2023-24 season.
- Sollenne tied her career high in points, with nine in the game at Mount St. Mary's (1/11).
- Sollenne was 3-for-5 five three point range, racking up nine points, two rebounds, and two assists in her first collegiate appearance at Yale (12/30).
- Sollenne graduated from St. Luke's School with four varsity letters in women's basketball.
- She averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game as a senior.
- Sollenne shot 40.0% from three-point range as a senior.
- A two-time All-NEPSAC selection, Sollenne was also an FAA First Team selection as a senior and FAA Second Team selection as a junior.
- Sollenne helped lead St. Luke's to two FAA Championships.
- She aided St. Luke's to the school's first-ever New England Championship as a senior.
C'MON BARBRI LET'S GO PARTY
- A transfer from Delaware, Bri Bowen joins the Bobcats as a sophomore for the 2023-24 season.
- Bri had a season high 10 points against Yale (12/30) on 4-6 (67%) shooting and 2-2 from beyond the arc.
- Bowen took a crucial charge in the final seconds in QU's win over Holy Cross before knocking down her two free-throws to help seal the deal.
- Bowen scored the game-winning basket at the buzzer in Quinnipiac's thrilling win over URI on the road, 61-59, on Nov. 30.
- Bowen's buzzer beater was featured at No. 9 on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.
- Bowen scored her first career points against Harvard, posting seven in the contest on Nov. 12.
- Bowen graduated from Archbishop Wood with four varsity letters in women's basketball.
- She averaged 10.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 assists per game during her time at Archbishop Wood.
- A two-time captain at Archbishop Wood, Bowen was a 2022 McDonald's All-American nominee.
- Bowen earned All-Catholic Philadelphia Catholic League First Team honors and was a PIAA All-State selection as a senior.
- A three-time Montgomery County Times Herald All-Area Team selection, Bowen was also a three-time Bucks-Mont Intelligencer/Courier All-Area Team honoree.
- Bowen Aided Archbishop Wood to a PIAA State Championship as a senior and helped lead them to a Philly Catholic League Championship as a junior.
WELCOME HOME SAMMY G
- Quinnipiac University women's basketball Head Coach Tricia Fabbri announced the addition of alumnae Sam Guastella '15 as an assistant coach to the program on Friday, Aug. 11.
- Before joining Quinnipiac, Guastella served as an assistant coach at nearby Yale University, where she began the alumni mentorship program while developing student-athletes on and off the court and excelling in student-athlete recruitment and scouting reports for game preparation.
- Before her time at Yale, Guastella spent two seasons at Temple, helping the Owls to a pair of American Athletic Conference Tournament appearances.
- Before that, she got her start in coaching as a graduate assistant at La Salle in 2018-19 and was elevated to an assistant coach role for the 2019-20 season. She helped the Explorers more than double their overall and Atlantic 10 win totals in her second year.
- At La Salle in 2019-20, she helped the Explorers to their first win over a Power 5 program (Penn State) since November 2015.
- She worked directly with guard/forward Kayla Spruill, helping her earn the Big 5 Most Improved Player Award after nearly doubling her points per game and tripling her rebounds per game.
- Guastella's playing career was marked by success in Hamden, including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, a couple of WNIT appearances, and a pair of conference championships at Quinnipiac.
- She led the Bobcats to the best record in program history in 2014-15 (31-4). That included an undefeated conference mark of 20-0 and Quinnipiac's first MAAC Championship.
- She was a First Team All-MAAC selection and finished her career as the Bobcats' all-time leader with 225 career three-pointers.
- She also had the most career blocked shots (179) of anyone in QU's Division I era (since 1998-99) and served as team captain.
PRESEASON ACCLAIM
- Quinnipiac women's basketball was tabbed No. 5 in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league office as part of the inaugural MAAC Basketball Tip-off held at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
- The Bobcats received 81 points in the preseason coaches' poll – finishing behind Niagara (116 points), Siena (112 points), Fairfield (87 points) and Marist (86 points).
- Quinnipiac junior Jackie Grisdale was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team as well.
- As a sophomore last season, Grisdale started in all 30 games and averaged career-highs of 9.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.8 steals per game.
- As a first-year and walk-on for the 2021-22 season, Grisdale appeared in 27 games and averaged 4.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per game en route to earning MAAC All-Rookie Team honors.
NEXT TIME OUT
- The Bobcats hit the road to take on the Canisius Golden Griffins.
- Tip-off from Koessler Athletic Center is set for 6 p.m.
To stay up to date with all Quinnipiac women's basketball news, follow the program on Twitter/Instagram @QU_WBB or visit www.gobobcats.com/wbb.
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