By: Shane Dennehy
The Quinnipiac Bobcats and Siena Saints women’s basketball game remained scoreless for the first four minutes of the game.
Both teams were having trouble penetrating each other’s defenses. The first half was a defensive stalemate as both teams forced each other to turn the ball over numerous times. The teams combined for 34 turnovers in the first half.
Tricia Fabbri said her team was not being direct enough with the basketball.
“We were playing to east to west, side to side with the ball. We weren’t getting the ball inside, we went to the side, we were not looking to attack inside.”
Vanessa Udoji had another standout performance against the Siena Saints. Udoji scored 13 points, after she scored 16 points this past Thursday against Saint Peter’s in her first career start. Udoji thanked her coach Tricia Fabbri for the opportunities she has gotten these past two games.
“It’s coach taking a chance on me and my teammates helping me out and coaching me up. I think my energy on defense is what translates to offense, and that’s what helps me get my shots.”
Quinnipiac’s defense was stifling in the second half, as they began to pull away from the Saints. What was once a back and forth game, quickly turned into a blowout. Siena kept it close through three quarters but the Bobcats’ defense ensured the win in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats held the Saints to eight points in the fourth quarter forcing 34 turnovers for the game.
Tricia Fabbri turned to a full court press in the first half and her decision turned out to be the difference maker. “I thought our trapping zone (defense) was really helpful in getting us going. Our defense is very aggressive, it’s not passive. I thought we played it a little bit soft in the first quarter.”
Jen Fay had a birthday to remember, as she led all scorers with 19 points. Fay redshirted last season after she tore her ACL and has been very productive off the bench this year for the Bobcats. She scored 26 points at Temple last Sunday. Tricia Fabbri is very happy to have her forward back.
“It’s been really great to have her back. She is a smart basketball player. I am so pleased for her, the production that she is having coming off the injury and obviously it makes us really tough.”
The Bobcats won their first two MAAC games of the year as they look to repeat as regular season champions and finish off the MAAC tournament on top. Quinnipiac defeated Saint Peters 84-51 on Thursday night and Siena 73-47 on Saturday afternoon. Quinnipiac moves to 6-1 and 2-0 in the MAAC. Quinnipiac will now turn its attention to Big Ten opponent Michigan State, ranked No. 22 in the country, on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Tricia Fabbri called on Quinnipiac fans to come out and support her team.
“We need you here, we need a home court advantage. This is a great opportunity to watch great women’s basketball, this is a ranked team in our arena, we’re 6-1, we have done our part in winning and winning a lot. We need you out to make this a true home court advantage.”
