The 9-1 start is the best in Quinnipiac Division I history and tied for second with the 1985-86 team for the best start in program history. 

The Bobcats were helped by 24 bench points, 11 coming from senior Nicole Duperron (Fort St. John, B.C.). Duperron added a career-high 12 rebounds to lead both teams.

Quinnipiac got off to a 5-0 lead after a three pointer by Brianna Rooney (Guilford, Conn.) and a free throw line jumper by junior Erin Kerner (Erie, Pa.). The Bobcats forced an Aztec timeout after extending the lead to 10-5.

After the timeout, a layup by senior Monique Lee (Lynn, Mass.) and back-to-back three-point baskets by Pennewell gave the Bobcats their largest lead of the game at 18-5.

After another Aztec timeout, sophomore Sarah McGowan (Red Lion, Pa.) hit back-to-back three-pointers of her own to extend the Bobcat lead to 26-5. A jumper by Aztec sophomore Quenese Davis finally put an end to the Quinnipiac run, cutting the lead to 26-7.

The Bobcats led by as many as 22 points in the first half, but the Aztecs were able to chip away, cutting the Quinnipiac lead to 44-28 at halftime.

Pennewell led all scorers at halftime with 12 points, while McGowan exceeded her season-high with 11 points in the first half. The Aztecs were led by Davis and freshman Paris Johnson with 10 points apiece.

The Bobcats made 8 first-half three-pointers and their 44 points were a season-high total for the first half.

The Aztecs were able to cut the deficit to 48-35 at the 15:51 mark in the second half after a layup by sophomore Jene Morris.

After San Diego State had cut the Bobcat lead to 54-43, Quinnipiac went on a 10-2 run capped by a layup by Duperron, which put the Bobcats up 64-45.

Morris caught fire, hitting three shots from beyond the arc to help pull the Aztecs within 12 points, but that was as close as they would get.

Rooney scored seven straight points for the Bobcats, and a Pennewell three-pointer with 1:27 remaining put Quinnipiac up 78-57. San Diego State hit a couple of free throws to make the final score 78-59.

Quinnipiac will play Sunday, December 30 in the tournament championship game at 4 p.m. They will take on the winner of the Seton Hall/ Western Michigan match up. With a win, the Bobcats would tie the 1983-84 team for the best start in the program’s history.