Photo courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By: Josh Silverman
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After an ugly loss to Manhattan Sunday, the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team rebounded with a 71-60 road win against the Northeastern Huskies Wednesday night. Captains Maria Napolitano and Carly Fabbri were huge in the win. The Bobcats improved their record to 5-4 overall. Here are my three quick hits:
Maria Napolitano is back (offensively)
Let’s be honest, Napolitano hasn’t had quite the senior season she envisioned thus far. After shooting 31 percent from the three-point line last year, the senior from Ohio started this season shooting just 28 percent from the field and 17 percent from deep. She’s missed time this season with an ankle injury and hurt her other ankle against Manhattan. Her defense was strong as usual, helping the Bobcats hold Northeastern to 60 points. Against the Huskies, Napolitano shot five-for-eight from the field and three-for-four from behind the arc. She was smarter with the ball and more confident on the court, while giving Northeastern trouble all night as she finished with a team-high 19 points. As this young team continues to grow down the stretch, the Bobcats need her senior leadership more than ever. Head coach Tricia Fabbri had to be satisfied with the way the reigning conference Sixth Man of the Year performed.
Small in size, huge in effort
Its obvious Carly Fabbri isn’t afraid to shoot. The sophomore is tied with Napolitano for the most three-point attempts on the team (45). Aside from the Manhattan loss (zero-for-eight from downtown), Fabbri has been efficient shooting the rock and Wednesday wasn’t any different. She was two-for-four from behind the arc, finishing with eight points. But her biggest contribution was her rebounding. Fabbri only had a total of 14 rebounds going into Wednesday’s game (1.75 per game), but corralled four meaningful rebounds. At just 5-foot-7, she plays much bigger and stronger than her frame. Twice in the first half she got an important rebound and dished it out to a teammate who hit a three. Those six points at halftime were huge for Quinnipiac, as it was only up five. Then she had two more, falling to the floor, sacrificing her body. These plays are the reason her entire team voted her captain as just a sophomore.
Bobcats get back on track
Sunday’s loss against Manhattan was a game to forget for Tricia Fabbri’s squad. However, they got back on track as the Bobcats improved their shooting. They shot 38 percent from the field and 32 percent from three. Quinnipiac’s shots Wednesday night were similar to the shots it took in the Manhattan game, but they were in rhythm with the ball going in. No specific statistic jumped off the box score. Fundamental basketball and tough defense was enough to propel Quinnipiac to victory. They had great contributions from freshmen Aryn McClure, who had nine points, and Brittany Martin, who despite only had four was tasked with guarding Northeastern point guards all night. Next up for Quinnipiac? A date at Drexel on Dec. 21.
