Photo courtesy Quinnipiac Athletics
By: Josh Silverman
No MAAC Tournament Hangover
Quinnipiac didn’t let losing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference final affect its performance in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. In fact, the team made history. The Bobcats came out flying, leading by nine points at the end of the first quarter and by 30 at halftime en route to a 90-44 win against Maine and will play Temple University at home Sunday at 2 p.m. The result marks the first postseason win in Quinnipiac women’s basketball program history. “It could have been our best 40 minutes of basketball all year long.”
Quinnipiac started slow as Maine lead by one point midway through the first quarter, but after an Adily Martucci 3-pointer it went on a 34-to-5 run to end the first half. The Bobcats shot 60 percent from the field and 47 percent from deep, while holding the Black Bears to 28 and 15 percent respectively. Quinnipiac’s 22-point advantage in the paint was crucial. The Bobcats dominated every aspect of the game. They got contributions from the entire team, including four players who reached double-digit points.
2016-17 Preview
After taking over Maria Napolitano’s starting spot in the MAAC championship, junior Adily Martucci had perhaps the best game of her career. She finished the game with 18 points going 7-for-10 from the field, including 4-for-5 from behind the arc. Martucci, one of a few upperclassmen, will be the team’s focal point in the future. The win, against a solid mid-major team with eight seniors, shows the rest of the MAAC Quinnipiac will be back next year.
It’s been hard to deal with the loss of Napolitano, but Fabbri knows they were capable of overcoming it. “Obviously it’s been difficult not only for her but (also) for all of us. What helped was that we had two weeks time for us to move and prepare in her absence. She’s been so good as a captain and a vocal leader from the sideline.”
Not only can they win, but also the Bobcats can perform in high-pressure situations. This team will only get better as Napolitano is the only player they’re losing for next season. This team is really young, as it will return its full starting lineup next year.
Paula Strautmane
The MAAC All Rookie Team selection, Paula Strautmane, was on fire. She finished the game with 21 points, nine rebounds and three steals, an eye-popping stat line for her first postseason appearance. Strautmane set a program record for most field goals without a miss, going 10-for-10. She had Quinnipiac’s first four points never looked back. Her play fired up her teammates and gave Quinnipiac the momentum they needed to blow by Maine and advance in the WNIT Tournament.
