Photo courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By: Josh Silverman
At this point, most people know about Quinnipiac women’s basketball’s winning streak. They’ve overcome a 0-3 conference start and currently sit at 17-3, bringing home the regular season title along the way. They’ve been playing like a team and that is why they’ve been so much better, but individual players have also stepped up and contributed in many ways.
Carly Fabbri is one of those players.
In the month of February, when this red-hot Quinnipiac team has played first-class MAAC teams including Fairfield, Iona and Marist, she has put up some of the best stats of her career.
Fabbri has shot 45 percent from behind the arc, 43 percent from the field, gone 13-for-18 shooting free throws, and accumulated 32 assists. Those stats have greatly improved from earlier games.
In December, she shot just seven-for-34 when asked to do a lot more. She has adjusted to her increased playing time since the end of January.
In back-to-back games against Saint Peter’s and Siena she set her own personal record for points. She notched 15 against the Peacocks then beat it scoring 17 points against the Saints. Against Rider on Feb. 21, she went five-for-seven shooting. She has been a catalyst for this team.
In addition to her stats, her shots have come at clutch times.
“She had an incredible regular season for this team and she hit two huge back-to-back threes when we were down six to Iona,” her mom, and head coach, Tricia Fabbri said. That was huge.”
Coming into this year, there were a lot of questions about the leadership on this team. Tricia Fabbri believes Carly has answered those questions.
“Knowing her as much as I do, I see her leadership and her strong leadership skills and how the team reacts to her,” the elder said. “It was great that as just a sophomore she was recognized when we voted for captains in the beginning of the year.”
Not only has Carly been a huge leader on the court during warm ups and during the game, but off the court as well.
“I haven’t seen her at home,” the coach said. “She comes home Sunday nights because she does pre-clinical work Monday mornings. She has always been a leader and it was nice that the team recognized it. Before you were going to put a team together you needed leadership and this team realized that she was one of those voices.”
As all great leaders do, she accepted her new role and ended up leading the team in assists. The point guard knew changes had to be made and she embraced them.
“It’s not like I was disappointed with not playing point guard in the beginning of the year and with the injuries to Edel, I just had to work hard. I think the Florida Gulf Coast game was a turning point and Aryn McClure and Paula Strautmane started scoring a lot more. Internally everybody has confidence in one and another.”
If this team wants to be repeat MAAC champions, they need Fabbri’s leadership and play to get past tough opponents. She will be the cornerstone of the Bobcats for the next couple of years, and could bring home a few more championships.
