The Quinnipiac Women’s Basketball team was back in action as they picked up a tough and gritty 66-63 victory over the Holy Cross Crusaders at M&T Bank Arena.
“A hard-fought win, the good, bad, and the ugly…we didn’t give it up, and we pulled out a win. The growth that continues to happen for our team is pretty substantial,” head coach Tricia Fabbri said postgame.
This was a game of runs, as both sides responded to the pressure with huge plays by each team to shift the momentum. The Bobcats went on hot offensive stretches, only to let the Crusaders fight back. When the Bobcats were feeling the momentum change, a made shot or a defensive stop weathered the storm. First year forward Anna Foley finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, doing a little bit of everything to help contribute to a Quinnipiac victory.
“(Anna) is a rare commodity and a great human. She can pass the ball, and I think that’s a separator for someone who is in a 6”2 or 6”3 body, who can step out and have guard skills but also run an offense like a point guard. That’s why we’re able to have a lot of success in our half-court game, because of what Anna is able to do,” Fabbri said of the first year forward from Andover, Massachusetts.
The action heated up with about a minute to go in regulation as a couple of turnovers and missed free throws from the Bobcats allowed Holy Cross to make their way back into the game.
However, the Crusaders could not tie the game as the Bobcats got some huge stops on the defensive end and narrowly avoided overtime. Holy Cross senior guard Cara McCormack missed on a three that would have forced the extra five minutes but finished the game with 17 points as she continued to hit a plethora of tough shots.
Throughout the entirety of the game, the Bobcats were constantly seen supporting one another after a key shot or a massive defensive stop towards the end of the game with the Quinnipiac bench creating their own atmosphere as this young team continues to find their groove with conference play and final exam week approaching.
“Coach (Fabbri) has just been emphasizing building the trust in each other, believing in each other, and knowing that in order to get a win, we have to be completely united in everything that we are doing on defense…the chemistry that we’ve built, I feel like we’re really starting to get in a groove, and find the ways that we succeed, and we’ve been a tight-knit group these past couple of months,” Foley said of the team camaraderie.
Today, there was more than just basketball on the menu, as Quinnipiac men’s and women’s basketball teams ran a toy drive during the games this weekend. With the holiday season in full force, the Bobcats are continuing their efforts to give back to the Hamden community.
“Well, we all know that not everyone has the means to have, especially kids, some toys under the tree from Santa, so anything we can do (goes a long way). So happy that Tom Pecora and myself decided to do something for our Hamden community with the kids that are in need, the families that are in need, and everything counts,” Fabbri said of the initiative.
“The majority of our fans are kids, and we have a ton of elementary school students come and watch our games, and they look up to us, so it’s only fair that we do our part in giving back,” first year guard Karson Martin added, as she finished with 11 points in her first career start as a Bobcat.
The Bobcats will have eight days to recover before their first MAAC contest against the Rider Broncs in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, as Monday marks the beginning of finals week at Quinnipiac.
