By: Sierra Goodwill
“It’s a feeling of finished business.”
Head coach of the 2017 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Champions, Tricia Fabbri, fought back tears after her team defeated the Rider Broncs 81-73 in the conference finals Monday night.
The Quinnipiac women’s basketball team cut the nets down donning championship hats and shirts for the third time in five years.
“I’m so thankful for everyone who’s came before us and helped us win and helped us establish a winning culture,” Fabbri said.
Sophomore Aryn McClure saved her best game for the biggest stage, scoring a career-high 28 points. The sour taste from last year’s championship loss never left her mouth and knew she needed to put the team on her back to avenge that defeat.
“It was just adrenaline,” the forward said. “I saw that we were down and there was no way we were losing again in the Championship.”
McClure, along with Carly Fabbri and Jen Fay, was also named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team. Coach Fabbri was not surprised about her fiery performance, as she’s confident that any player on her team can step up and knock it down when it matters most.
“On any given night, someone will explode. Case and point, just look at Aryn McClure. She was not going to let us lose tonight.”
However, it was not a cakewalk to the finish line.
In the quarterfinals, Quinnipiac was down by eight to Canisius in the third quarter. Then, it was down 10 twice to its rival Iona in the semifinals. The title game was no different, with the Bobcats down 10, then having to fend off a late-game push that brought the Broncs within four with a minute to go.
“I’m just so pleased we were able to win these three games and finish our business,” the head coach said. “I’m at a loss for words at how tough they are, how resilient they are and how hard they worked this entire tournament. I can’t speak enough about the character, the will and the fortitude these young ladies possess.”
Quinnipiac finished the first half on a 12-4 run, giving it the momentum heading into the final 20 minutes and a one point lead. This is the only time the Bobcats had the advantage at the break the entire tournament.
“We actually went in to the locker room at half up one, which was a little bit different,” Fabbri said with a chuckle. “The second half we never looked back. Now we’re crowned MAAC Champions and we get to get into the NCAA Tournament.”
An enormous key to Quinnipiac’s tournament and season success was fifth-year senior Adily Martucci. After dropping 16 points and four rebounds in Monday night’s game, Martucci was named the 2017 MAAC Tournament Most Valuable Player.
“We depended and we leaned on Adily,” Fabbri said. “You need seniors this time of year and that experience was vital all year long.”
Martucci is the only player to have been a part of all three conference championship teams, yet she says this one is incomparable.
“In 2013 I was a freshman and I redshirted that year, so it was kind of a different perspective. I was really just learning from the upperclassmen and the people before me. The second championship, I directly contributed, but not as much as this year. This time, my teammates needed me and something about being a senior and closing your season out like this is freaking amazing.”
While hoisting the conference tournament trophy and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament was the main goal for the Bobcats, their season is not over. At 7 p.m. on March 13, Quinnipiac will determine it’s fate in the big dance. For now, Fabbri wants her team to relish in the moment, but it will be back to business soon enough.
“This is so difficult to do. To set a goal, and then do it, you certainly enjoy it. But I did tell the young ladies to not be satisfied, we’re on to the next goal.”
Fabbri said her squad’s strength of schedule and their will to win puts them in a great position to win on a national stage and give the program some attention.
Martucci guarantees it.
“We’re trying to make history. We’re not stopping here. I’m not ending my career without a win in the NCAA Tournament.”
