Morris, Warfel and the Bobcats looking to ride the momentum

Photo Courtesy: Quinnipiac Athletics

Nick Lewis, Women's basketball beat reporter
November 23, 2019

After setting aside the first game nerves, first year forward Mikala Morris has proved that she belongs on the court at the Division I level.

It was announced earlier this week that Morris earned MAAC Rookie of the Week for her performances in the games against Yale and Bucknell. Morris had 29 points last week including a 17-point performance that helped keep her team in the game against Yale.

“It felt really good” said Morris. “It was definitely a confidence boost especially coming from my very first game to where I am now. It was really great to get that.”

Head coach Tricia Fabbri was thrilled that Morris won the award for her week-long performance. “It was earned and deserved and that’s not necessarily the case that they get recognized.”

Senior forward Paige Warfel has also been an important player for the Bobcats recording a double-double in two of her first three games to start the season. Warfel said that she doesn’t keep track of the double-doubles and she was focused on getting the first win for her team. After getting their first win against Bucknell in Hamden, the Bobcats will look to use that momentum in upcoming games.

Fabbri said that her team keeps getting better every week and that with such a young team it’s important to find their identity. She is leaning on her seniors to bridge the gap of the identity of teams in the past to the identity of teams in the future.

“It’s been a mix of everybody” said Fabbri, “Playing 11 players all three games to grow through game experience and obviously through practice. We’ve had all our rookies contribute, we’ve had Mikala Morris named rookie of the week and then we’ve had Mackenzie DeWees and Shaq Edwards really start to take the reins and develop our five and five identity and that was the biggest step forward in the Bucknell game.”

The Bobcats will get their toughest test of the season when they travel to College Park, Maryland to play the Maryland Terrapins where Mackenzie DeWees, a Westminster, Maryland-native, will be welcomed home. DeWees is excited to return home to play in front of her family and friends.

The Bobcats tip off on Sunday at noon at the Xfinity Center.