By Tim Schulze, QBSN Staff Writer
Quinnipiac’s women’s basketball team advanced to 7-0 on season after defeating the Holy Cross Crusaders 61-49 Saturday afternoon at the TD Bank Sports Center.
With the Bobcat win, Quinnipiac women’s basketball head coach Tricia Fabbri collected her 250th career victory and became the all-time leader wins leader in Quinnipiac women’s basketball history.
The Bobcats 7-0 start to the 2012-13 season is the school’s best start to a season since the 1985-86 season in which the season started 9-0.
Senior Felicia Barron (Springfield, Mass.) led the Bobcats offensively with 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and six steals. Sophomore Jasmine Martin (Sicklerville, N.J.) recorded double-digits for the fourth time in her last five games with 12 points while grabbing three rebounds in the victory. She also went 4-of-8 from downtown in the contest against Holy Cross. Sophomore Samantha Guastella joined the scoring barrage with 11 points, including three 3-pointers in 25 minutes of action.
“We talked a lot about our rebounding, offensively and defensively we’ve seen better hands on the balls, corralling it and bringing it in,” Tricia Fabbri said. “It’s really been a point of emphasis that we have been knocking around the balls been bouncing out of bounds in practice, so really going forward we just adjust the defense, rebound, own it and go get it.”
The Bobcats got off to a quick start in the first half, as Martin ignited the Bobcats offense with a 3-pointer on the game’s first possession, as the Bobcats eventually went on to take an early 10-3 lead. The Bobcats extended the lead to 28-16 over the next 10 minutes of play.
While the Bobcats shot 37.3 percent from the field, Quinnipiac’s defense made a big impact on the game, forcing 30 turnovers against the Crusaders.
Although Holy Cross out-rebounded the Bobcats, 52-40, and points in the paint, 30-22, the Bobcats three-point shooting was the difference in the game. Holy Cross managed only nine points, 3-13, from behind the arc.
Lisa Mifsud led the Crusaders with 11 points, two assists, and two steals. Holy Cross dropped below .500 with the loss to Quinnipiac and now stands with a record of 4-5.
Quinnipiac’s next game will come on the road against the University of Hartford as the Bobcats look to keep their undefeated streak alive.
