In a matchup that we may see again come March, the Quinnipiac Bobcats defeated the Siena Saints on Saturday 73–47. The two teams were both placed in the top three of the Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference’s preseason rankings. After the game, Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri was asked whether this game and the previous matchup against Saint Peter’s would hold importance come later in the season.
“I think these two games have huge implications. Playing them three weeks into the season you know it has incredibly big implications…It has major implications for seedings and going forward in March,” Fabbri said.
For the Bobcats however, it was all about breaking through a tough Siena defense as the Saints forced 12 turnovers in the first half. Quinnipiac began to find ways to score throughout the game though as redshirt sophomore forward Jen Fay and freshman guard Vanessa Udoji both scored 19 points and 13 points respectively.
It was a huge defensive assignment for the Bobcats as well today as they were tasked with stopping Siena leading scorer Jackie Benitez who came into today averaging 21.4 points per game. She did put up nine in the first half, but Quinnipiac successfully denied her for the remainder of the game. Coach Fabbri also talked about her team’s defensive strategy and limiting the go-to scorer.
“I thought our trapping zone defense was really helpful in getting us going,” Fabbri said. “Our defense is very aggressive, it’s not passive. I thought we played it a little soft in the first quarter…we are very hard and fast on our rolls, and you know with the game plan, we want to be as consistent as we can during the game and that’s why I think we are a very good defensive team.”
The Bobcats began spacing the floor more on offense in the second half which led to open looks and sinking threes by junior Carly Fabbri and Jen Fay as well as another fantastic performance by sophomore center Paula Strautmane who finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
The defense kicked into final gear by the fourth quarter as the Bobcats used their strategic double teams and sometimes even triple teams to pull away late. The Bobcats cut off Siena’s ability to get into the paint which the Saints had been relying on in the first half. Siena forward Meghan Donahue, who lives down low on offense, did score 13 points but five of those came from the free throw line and multiple players were left scoreless with numerous missed field goals.
With the win today, Quinnipiac improves to a 6-1 record overall and 2-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Siena falls to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the MAAC as the Saints had a disappointing start in their non-conference games. Quinnipiac’s next game is at home against a power five conference opponent in Michigan State. It should prove to be a true matchup to measure the team’s success this year and Coach Fabbri’s effect on the program in her tenure.
