Since entering MAAC play, Quinnipiac has shown no mercy whatsoever — and their most recent matchup against Sacred Heart was no exception.  After coming away with another strong victory, the Bobcats now improve to 7-0 in conference play this season.

The Pioneers, who came in with a 2-4 road record, were dominated across multiple key stats that ultimately led to a Bobcat win.  Coming into the matchup, Sacred Heart has forced on average 16.5 turnovers per game. On Saturday, Quinnipiac proved to be the outlier by recording only eight.

Ella O’Donnell, coming off her first double-double of the season, set the tone early for the Bobcats with a crafty reverse layup to score the first points of the game.  O’Donnell finished with 13 points in the win, along with three rebounds.

While O’Donnell’s performance was a huge contributor, she also turned the ball over five times and recorded four personal fouls.  That, among other moments, was a big reason why the Pioneers were able to keep the game close for so long. 

“I don’t feel like it was our best performance to date, but we got the result,” head coach Tricia Fabbri noted postgame.  Despite their struggles, Quinnipiac played its brand of basketball, which rarely lets it down.

Star guard Jackie Grisdale had a rather quiet night with four points, but Fabbri wasn’t concerned at all.  Their ability to have multiple threats offensively is the main reason why they have yet to lose a MAAC game.  

“When (Jackie) has a quiet night, someone is always there,” Fabbri said. “They share the ball so well, and you see that reflected again with the assist-to-turnover ratio.”  

Anna Foley is a prime example of the depth that the Bobcats boast.  Foley recorded a double-double on Saturday, grabbing 10 rebounds and scoring 13.  

“It just shows the depth of the team, and the balance that we have, and why we’ve gotten to 7-0,” Fabbri exclaimed regarding Foley’s strong showing.  Her 19 blocks this season lead the Bobcats by a sizable margin, proving to be a needle mover for her squad.  

“Just kind of letting the game to me, being aggressive on both sides of the ball,” Foley said postgame, speaking more on how she’s seen so much improvement this year.  

When Fabbri was asked about what’s been working the most over this seven-game win streak, she said, “I think it’s balanced. I continue to say I think our defense is really tough.”  She’s completely correct — Quinnipiac never let Sacred Heart take a lead the entire game, forcing 17 turnovers in the process.

Seven different Bobcats recorded a steal as well, a new season-high in MAAC play for them.  The lone player who didn’t have a steal, was Sydney Ryan, and while the stat sheet may not say that Ryan had a stellar defensive game, Fabbri had plenty of praise for her postgame.

“Syd had the huge three in the corner to put it to bed, but I was more impressed with her defensive effort and that she just likes to play in the mud, which I appreciate,” she said, expanding more on how much of an impact player Ryan has been since transferring to Quinnipiac.

Ryan recently joined the 1,000-point club, a milestone that she now shares with numerous Bobcat legends.  Her presence on the court is undeniable — scoring nine points, along with two assists and seven rebounds.  Being able to play your role is an incredibly important part of basketball, and Ryan does it to perfection.

“Every player has so much value, and their production has been so consistent,” Fabbri said with a smile after the win.  Quinnipiac had a different leader in almost every offensive category in the win, proving how balanced of a squad they are.  Paige Girardi saw the most minutes for the Bobcats, and led the team in assists with five.  O’Donnell scored double digits yet again, and Sydney’s sister Ella sank three shots from long range.  Quinnipiac’s balanced lineup is a staple of their success, and ultimately is the catalyst of their recent hot stretch.

By the time their next game rolls around, Quinnipiac will not have lost in a month.  They now get much-needed rest before welcoming Marist to M&T Bank Arena on January 17th.  “I do feel this break on Thursday comes at a really good time,” Fabbri said, “because it’s been a real stretch.”  The Bobcats now gear up for the final two months of their season, where they will continue their chase for a MAAC championship.