The Quinnipiac women’s basketball team is set to embark on another NCAA Tournament. Quinnipiac plays Miami in the opening round Saturday at 1:30 p.m in Storrs, CT. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Q30 Sports gets you ready for the game with what you need to know about each team and how each side can be victorious.
SEASON IN REVIEW: QUINNIPIAC
Quinnipiac Bobcats – 27-5, 18-0 MAAC
- 2018 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Champions
- Current 22 game winning streak (including postseason)
- 37th in RPI
Stats Leaders
- Points – Jen Fay (13.1 PPG), Aryn McClure (12.4 PPG)
- Rebounds – Jen Fay (6.9 RPG), Aryn McClure (5.8 RPG)
- Assists – Carly Fabbri (4.2 APG), Aryn McClure (3.1 APG)
Miami Hurricanes – 21-10, 10-6 ACC
- Eliminated by No. 11 Florida State in Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament
- Three wins against Top 25 teams (Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina State)
- 53rd in RPI
Stats Leaders
- Points – Erykah Davenport (12.3 PPG), Mykea Gray (11.7 PPG)
- Rebounds – Erykah Davenport (8.6 RPG), Emese Hof (5.4 RPG)
- Assists – Endia Banks (2.8 APG), Keyanna Harris (2.4 APG)
HOW QUINNIPIAC WINS…
One game at a time mentality
The Quinnipiac women’s basketball team has prided itself on focusing on each game at hand this entire season. With No. 1 overall seed Connecticut looming, Quinnipiac has to do the same against Miami. The Bobcats cannot afford to look ahead to what could be next.
Last season, Quinnipiac took on each game in the NCAA Tournament as if there were no tomorrow. They won in the opening round. They won in the second round. They stunned the college basketball world and put Quinnipiac on the map. The Bobcats want to be more than just on the map, and they know they can do that by playing tough with Connecticut in the Nutmeg State battle that has not happened since Dec. 17, 1998.
As much as this Quinnipiac team is surely thinking about what is next, the Bobcats know this game against Miami must be the focus.
If Quinnipiac keeps their “one game a time” mentality, Bobcats fans will see their team make postseason magic again.
HOW MIAMI WINS…
Know the opponent
When Quinnipiac defeated Miami 85-78 last March to reach the Sweet 16, the Bobcats shocked the nation. The Hurricanes expected a small, mid-major school without the same firepower as them to be what was between them and a date with No. 1 seed South Carolina in the next round. What they took on was a hungry and ultra-talented basketball team that can compete with anyone.
Miami will have the size advantage as they have six players standing six-foot, one-inch tall or above, while Quinnipiac has just one on its active roster at that height, Katie Grant at six-foot, four-inches, who does not figure to be a part of the postseason rotation. The ‘Canes can use their size to create tough matchups for the Bobcats all over the court.
If Miami does not overlook Quinnipiac, its top scorers Erykah Davenport and Mykea Gray play to their potential and use its size, Miami fans will have their redemption from last season and advance to the next round.
THE GAME
For exclusive coverage of Quinnipiac’s run in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, follow Q30 Sports beat reporters Bryan Schwartz and Sierra Goodwill on Twitter.
