The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced its All-MAAC selections Monday afternoon, and several Quinnipiac basketball players received honors for the 2013-2014 season.
The No. 1-seeded women’s basketball team, which became the first in MAAC history to win 20 games, received the most recognition from the conference. Forward Samantha Guastella received the lone Quinnipiac selection for First Team All-MAAC, and is joined by Iona’s Damika Martinez and Joy Adams along with Marist’s Tori Jarosz and Madeline Blais. Guastella averaged 13 points and 5.7 rebounds per game on the season, and becomes Quinnipiac’s first player to receive a First Team All-MAAC selection.
Guastella is the 10th player overall in Tricia Fabbri’s 20 years to receive a First-Team position.
Joining her in the MAAC selections are Val Driscoll (Second Team) as well as Gillian “Boo” Abshire and Nikoline Osteraard (Third Team). The four selections marks only the third time in MAAC history a team has fielded at least four all-conference picks. Both Abshire and Guastella had been selected Preseason All-MAAC.
Senior Jasmine Martin, who was unanimously selected Preseason First Team All-MAAC, did not make any of the three teams.
On the men’s end, Zaid Hearst’s 18.4 points per game were enough to snag the captain a First Team All-MAAC spot. Hearst failed to hit double-digit points just three times this season, and kicked off the year with a career-high 34 against Yale in the opener. He is joined by Iona’s A.J. English and David Laury, Manhattan’s Emmy Andujar, Monmouth’s Justin Robinson and Rider’s Matt Lopez.
Forward Ousmane Drame, who is tied for second in the country with 19 double-doubles, picked up Second Team honors. Drame’s play has earned him recognition from NBA scouts, who were present at multiple Quinnipiac home games this season. His 2.8 blocks per game also put him among the nation’s best.
Freshman Ayron Hutton, who was forced into the starting lineup as the Bobcats tried to find a solution in replacing the ineligible Giovanni McLean, was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. Hutton saw a major increase in minutes following the Dec. 14 loss to Boston University, and concluded the regular season averaging 20.5 per game on 16 starts.
Analysis
Guastella was a no-brainer on the women’s end, as her play proved her to be one of the MAAC’s most important players. Driscoll missing out on the First Team is baffling, given without her, Quinnipiac is left in a major hole down low and finishes far short of 20-0. Perhaps it was merely a case of there not being enough spots, but in context, she deserved to be there.
Ostergaard and Abshire on the Third Team make sense. Ostergaard’s increased versatility throughout the season changed her from a piece to a role player, and Abshire continues to be among the best point guards in all of college basketball.
Regarding Tom Moore’s team, Hearst struggled greatly in the second half of the season with his jump shot, but finished the season strong. Quinnipiac could have dropped even further than a No. 6, but his play helped them lock it up. It’s a tough call between who is more deserving with he and Drame, but the forward has a perceived lazy stigma from some within the conference.
It’s super rare to see a freshman flourish under Moore, but Hutton most certainly did. And while his numbers may not be off the charts, his presence on the court was exactly what Quinnipiac needed in order to field a formidable squad in the midst of a point guard controversy. His selection for All-Rookie Team is deserved, and he has a bright future ahead as long as he can continue to improve his individual statistics.
The men’s team will square off against Marist Thursday in the first round of the MAAC Tournament, while the women await the winner of No. 8 Canisius and No. 9 Monmouth.
