How do you rise up to expectations year after year?  It’s difficult to get to the top of the field, but it’s even harder to stay up there, especially when you lose the muscle that helped you get to the top. 

For Tricia Fabbri and the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team, that is the reality they are facing after years of undefeated MAAC conference play. After losing six in-conference matchups in the past 5 seasons, the Bobcats find themselves in a tough spot… the position of the underdog.  

“A couple years ago when [the five we graduated last year] were sophomores, I think we started out 0-3, and we had league losses. Everyone wants to make it sound like it was better than what our reality was,” Fabbri said.  

Fabbri wanted to make it clear that those losses were learning experiences for the young team that leads the team today.  

“I mean our last two years were fantastic in the league, but the year before we started out against Iowa, Missouri, and we went out to Ohio State… all those experiences now definitely allow us to become our best when it matters the most.” 

The team still continues to find its identity, sitting at 13-14 overall, and 10-8 in the conference. The team is finding new ways to create scoring without the leadership of Brittany Martin, Aryn McClure and Jen Fay. 

Redshirt junior guard Shaq Edwards transferred to Quinnipiac after her freshman year at La Salle. She sat out a year due to NCAA transfer rules, but has come out gunning in her first season for the Bobcats shooting 39% from the field and 34% from deep. 

First-Year Mikala Morris will get a considerable number of votes for MAAC Rookie of the Year, as she’s first on the team in blocks, fourth in shots made, and second in all rebound categories to Paige Warfel.  

As expected, Taylor Herd leads the team in total 3-pointers attempted and made, but her role on offense remains consistent with that of years past… sit back and look for open shots. Though she hasn’t been the scoring machine some thought she would turn into, her impact with the younger players is something Fabbri values just as much.  

“Her ability to shoot the ball and be a pivotal piece for us in terms of understanding what we need her to do… and now be a voice and take a leadership role. That’s what you want to see emerge as they also go through the program. Take a really active responsibility, not for themselves but for the young ladies in the locker room.” 

One big factor in the team’s early season struggle has been ball control. Last year the Bobcats averaged a MAAC second best 1.13 assist to turnover ratio, while this year’s squad sits at 0.8. Last year the team only had three players above the 1.5 TO/G mark, while over half the team this year has surpassed that mark.    

“There’s no skipping steps [in this game].  We’re very wide eyed and very comfortable with who we are, and what we need to continue to do to improve, and that’s what we’re looking to do right now,” Fabbri said.

The team has improved vastly since losing six of seven to start the year. Since that dreadful start, the Bobcats have gone 12-8 and sit fifth in the MAAC. 

A huge factor in helping the Bobcats with their growth has been the mentoring of Fay (class of ’19) and Morgan Manz (class of ’17).  

“For me, it’s just a reference in where we are and what we’re doing… just a check and balance of what they’re seeing… and having their experience just being in a uniform and now on the other side as a coach,” Fabbri said. 

“That’s the whole point in bringing them back. Knowing what we’ve done, and what they’re seeing currently, and where we want to go to continue to be great,” Fabbri said in reference to her two former players.

While the Bobcats are going to have to work hard to go deep into the playoffs, it’s a challenge that Fabbri is ready to combat. Her teams don’t shy away from the big moment, and as they prepare for the home stretch of the season, they still have the weight of being three-time defending MAAC champions on their shoulders.

Can Fabbri lead her Bobcats to the summit once more and cut down the nets for a fourth straight year?

It’s tough to bet against her.