By: Bryan Schwartz
Validation.
That’s the word Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri used when describing the team’s opening round win over Miami.
The Bobcats sure validated themselves yet again. Quinnipiac fell to No. 1 overall seed Connecticut 71-46, but held the Huskies to just 33 points at the half.
FINAL: #UConn wins 71-46. #Quinnipiac held UConn to its second lowest halftime point total of the season (33). Q has established itself as a legit program in the nation. #ncaaW
— Bryan Schwartz (@BryanSchwartz15) March 20, 2018
The Bobcats began the game with one of the toughest first halves the Huskies have played all season. UConn only managed to put up 33 points in the first half, which was its second lowest halftime score of the season.
“Obviously we’re not thrilled with the result,” head coach Tricia Fabbri said. “But our execution and our effort was fantastic.”
Quinnipiac shot just 26 percent from the field in the first half, but was able to stay with the Huskies the whole way until the break.
Fabbri credited the Bobcats’ game plan with the way they were able to keep the Huskies contained at first. The game plan for Quinnipiac was something the Bobcats have not done since the 2015 NCAA Tournament against Oklahoma. They tried to slow the game down.
“We slowed the game down so that we would take away possessions,” Fabbri said.
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma was impressed with the way Quinnipiac came out and played.
“You can’t dictate how you want the other team to play,” Auriemma said. “And I thought Quinnipiac did a great job controlling their part of the tempo and not letting us get too many runouts.”
“I would’ve done the same thing if I was Trish” – Geno Auriemma on @QUCoachFabbri’s decision to slow the game down and use the full 30 second shot clock. #ncaaW pic.twitter.com/OVUIdh3aVA
— Sierra Goodwill (@SierraGoodwill) March 20, 2018
Quinnipiac also only turned the ball over seven times (UConn had 13 turnovers). Fabbri said that lack of turning the ball over is “a hallmark of this program.”
The second half was all Huskies, though the Bobcats remained proud of what they were able to do.
“This was the pro of coming to Storrs when we saw Miami, and we saw UConn,” Fabbri said. “To have an opportunity when recruiting and building a program, to have this moment and to have a packed house and electric atmosphere.”
The atmosphere featured a packed Gampel Pavilion, full of 8,957 Connecticut-state basketball fans. Flashback to a few years ago, and one of those young basketball fans was Carly Fabbri. Fabbri just had the blue and gold on in the stands, rooting for her mother’s team. Now, her time in the blue and gold on the court has come to an end, scoring just three points on one-of-three shooting.
“I think it’s been incredible that I’ve been able to contribute to the program’s success,” Fabbri said. “My mom has been here for as long as I have been alive, so seeing her having that success and contributing and being a part of it has been incredible.”
Fabbri’s mom and coach could not have been more pleased with the way her daughter’s career came to a close.
“It was just really a storybook ending to have with your daughter,” Tricia Fabbri said. “For her to play in front of 8,500 people in a really competitive game, I was really excited for her to have this moment to close out her career.”
Fabbri will ride off into the sunset with three NCAA Tournaments in four years. This Quinnipiac sophomore class will have the chance to be the first ones to make it all four. The journey for the third all begins now, but the memory of this game, and this season will last a lifetime for Tricia Fabbri and these Bobcats.
“Heck of an effort. Heck of a team. So proud.”
