By: Sierra Goodwill
It’s officially time for the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team to shake off its Sweet 16 hangover.
Just last week the Bobcats received their shiny new rings and for the first time in program history, they weren’t for winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (even though they did that, too). Two unlikely and stunning upsets in the NCAA tournament and a date with the eventual national champions made for an unbelievable March for Quinnipiac.
But a new season is on the horizon. A fresh start. A blank slate. A chance to continue to rewrite its own history book.
Here’s a look inside this season’s Bobcat squad.
Head Coach
Tricia Fabbri
- 23rd season at the helm
- 379 career wins
- One of just five Quinnipiac head coaches with more than 350 wins
Last season in review
It wouldn’t make sense to talk about what the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team did during the regular season. It won. A lot. 24 of 29 games to be exact. The real magic came when the Bobcats were put into do-or-die situations.
The MAAC tournament wasn’t the prettiest showing for Quinnipiac, but its postseason experience always paid off when it came to keeping its composure down the stretch. The Bobcats downed the Canisius Golden Griffins 63-58 in the quarterfinals, then escaped the Iona Gaels 64-59 in the semifinals before rolling over the red-hot Rider Broncs 81-73 in the championship game.
That is when this team started to don a whole new attitude.
Quinnipiac made it clear that it was time to do something unprecedented. When the NCAA tournament bracket was announced, Quinnipiac felt extremely confident in its matchup against No. 5 Marquette. The Bobcats led wire to wire and won 68-65. Next up was the host team: No. 4 Miami (Fl.). 15 three-pointers and a 85-78 win later, Quinnipiac was headed to the Sweet 16. In a matter of one week, the country went from not being able to pronounce its name to seeing the Bobcats’ unlikely run all over national television.
South Carolina, the 2016-17 national champions, took down Quinnipiac in dominating fashion 100-58.
Who’s Back?
Aryn McClure – junior, 5-foot-11 forward/guard
- The 2017-18 MAAC preseason Player of the Year and First Team All-MAAC
- Averaged 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.5 blocks per game in 28.5 minutes per game last season
- Only player in the MAAC to lead her respective team in rebounds (210), assists (103) and blocks (55)
Paula Strautmane – junior, 6-foot forward
- Averaged 8.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.5 steals per game last season
- Finished the season with 15 double digit scoring games and led the team with three double-doubles
- Combined 26 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists in two NCAA tournament wins
Jen Fay – redshirt junior, 6-foot forward
- Averaged a team-high 10.5 points per game last season
- Scored 20-points on 9-for-16 shooting in the First Round of the NCAA tournament
- 18 double-digit scoring outings in 2016-17 season
Who’s Gone?
Adily Martucci
- 2017 MAAC Tournament MVP
- Averaged 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 26.3 minutes per game in 2016-17
- Had arguably two biggest plays of the NCAA tournament run: blocked game-tying shot at the buzzer against Marquette and hit a three-pointer with 59 seconds left against Miami (Fl.) to put the game out of reach.
Games to watch
Nov. 28 vs. Dayton – 7 p.m. at Lender Court
There’s no easing into this season for Quinnipiac, which starts its season playing in the Hawkeye Challenge against Iowa and then Missouri or Western Kentucky. The Bobcats then face No. 5 Ohio State on the road and host Northern Colorado, another mid-major standout. With the potential to go 0-4 to start the season, Quinnipiac’s next matchup against Dayton is that much more important.
These two teams faced off last season in the second game of the year and the Bobcats squeezed out a three-point win, 63-60. Morgan Manz, who graduated last season, helped Quinnipiac overcome a 17-point third quarter deficit with 19-points and 4 rebounds. This was the largest comeback victory in the Bobcats’ Division I program history. Much like Quinnipiac, Dayton has also been the Cinderella in the big dance. In 2015, the 10th-seeded Flyers advanced all the way to the Elite Eight until they also fell to the later national champions. Fabbri’s squad forced 20 turnovers in their contest last season leading to 26 points and they will have to play with that same aggression this time around to be able to come out on top again.
Dec. 18 @ Michigan State – 7 p.m. at the Breslin Center
To put it nicely, Quinnipiac’s performance against Michigan State was subpar. The Bobcats seemed star-struck by the Spartans and shot a pitiful 27.9 percent from the field in a 71-54 loss. Not to mention more than a third of Quinnipiac’s points came from Martucci (20) who will be of no help this year.
However, the good news is the Bobcats are no longer blinded by the bright lights. Quinnipiac now knows what it’s like to play with the odds stacked against it and it’s boasting a confidence like never before. Sure, this game poses the extra challenge of being on the road in East Lansing, Michigan. But win or lose, it will be a great measure of growth for the Bobcats to see how their attitude and attack have developed since their first meeting.
Jan. 6 @ Iona – 1 p.m. at Hynes Athletic Center
Quinnipiac and Iona have had a heated rivalry since the Gaels sniped the MAAC Championship crown from the Bobcats in 2015. Quinnipiac has had the last laugh in its last two meetings against Iona, including its revenge in the conference tournament. However, the Bobcats continually struggle to perform at the Gael’s home court in New Rochelle, New York. Last season Quinnipiac lost 58-44 on the road in a brutally ugly game. The Bobcats shot 29.5 percent from the field and 10.5 percent from three (2-for-19).
While Quinnipiac was chosen No. 1 in the MAAC preseason poll and Iona picked as No. 3, it is hard to dominate a team that you share a dramatic history with. If the Bobcats want to be the cream of the crop in the MAAC going forward, they will have to prove they can compete at the same level regardless of who has home court advantage.
Getting started
The Quinnipiac women’s basketball team takes on Iowa in its first game of the season on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. in Iowa City, Iowa. Last season Iowa faced some of women’s basketball’s most dominant programs such as Notre Dame and Maryland. The Hawkeyes finished 8-8 in the Big Ten and advanced to the WNIT quarterfinals before falling to Washington State, 74-66. Iowa has had 20 or more wins for the last 10 seasons.
