November 23, 2011

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Quinnipiac Women’s Basketball Homepage
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Saint Mary’s Concord Hilton Thanksgiving Classic – November 25 & 26
McKeon Pavilion – Moraga, Calif.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (1-2, 0-0 NEC)
Saint Mary’s College Gaels (2-2, 0-0 WCC)
University of Minnesota Gophers (3-2, 0-0 Big Ten)
Virginia Tech Hokies (2-2, 0-0 ACC)

Game 1: Quinnipiac vs. Minnesota
Friday, November 25, 2011 – 8 p.m. (EST)
Game 2: Quinnipiac vs. Saint Mary’s or Virginia Tech
Saturday, November 26, 2011 – 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. (EST)

Bobcats Compete In Thanksgiving Tournament
The Quinnipiac University women’s basketball team (1-2) will travel to participate in the Saint Mary’s Concord Hilton Classic this weekend. Four teams will compete in the Thanksgiving tournament, including Saint Mary’s College of California, the University of Minnesota, and Virginia Tech. The Bobcats will play Minnesota on Friday, Nov. 25 at 8 p.m. (ET) and either Saint Mary’s or Virginia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. (ET), depending on the results of Friday’s games.

Multimedia
Live stats, video and audio of this weekend’s contests will be available by clicking on the appropriate links on the Quinnipiac women’s basketball schedule at www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com. Fans can listen to the games live with Bob Mortali on AM-1220 WQUN.

Tournament Schedule
Quinnipiac and Minnesota will open the tournament with a contest on Friday, Nov. 25 at 8 p.m. (ET), followed by Saint Mary’s and Virginia Tech at 10 p.m. (ET). The Bobcats will then play on Saturday, Nov. 26 against either Virginia Tech at 8 p.m. (ET) or Saint Mary’s at 10 p.m. (ET), depending on the results of Friday’s games. For the latest news, scores and schedule updates, please visit the official website of Quinnipiac Athletics, www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com.

All-Time Against Tournament Opponents
Quinnipiac will face all tournament opponents for the first time in school history this weekend.

Scouting Minnesota
Last season, the Gophers finished their 2010-11 campaign at 12-18 overall and were eliminated from post-season play in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Minnesota currently stands at 3-2 on the year and is undefeated at home, 2-0. The Gophers opened the season with a 68-60 victory over Arkansas, followed by two losses to No. 14/13 Florida State, 68-56, and South Florida, 60-52, at the WBI Tip Off tournament. Most recently, Minnesota claimed the Subway Classic Title as it defeated Binghamton, 65-40, and North Dakota State, 80-41. Senior Kiara Buford, a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention selection, currently leads the team with 13 points per game and 12 steals, while junior Katie Loberg averages a team-high seven rebounds per game. Additionally, Buford posts a team-leading 41.2 field-goal percentage. Freshman point guard Rachel Banham has made an immediate impact in her rookie season, posting 10.8 points and 5.8 boards per game.

Scouting Saint Mary’s
Tournament host, Saint Mary’s, enters the weekend at 2-2 overall. The Gaels opened the season at the DePaul Maggie Dixon Classic where they fell to No. 19 DePaul, 96-68, and defeated Montana, 67-65. Saint Mary’s then lost to UC Santa Barbara, 61-52, prior to outlasting Pacific, 68-67, in its most recent outing. The Gaels were predicted to finish 5th in the West Coast Conference, while senior guard Jasmine Smith, a 2010-11 All-WCC first team honoree, was selected to the 2011-12 Preseason All-WCC team. Smith currently leads the Gaels with 13.3 points per game, while redshirt sophomore Jackie Nared has combined for 12.3 points per contest. Sophomore Danielle Mauldin, a 6-foot forward, has pulled down a team-leading 29 rebounds, averaging 7.3 boards per game.

Scouting Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech has started off the 2011-12 season with a 2-2 overall record. In their most recent outing, the Hokies dropped a non-conference game to William & Mary, 78-59. Earlier in the season, Virginia Tech earned wins against Old Dominion, 77-65, and George Washington, 55-48. The team also lost to Charlotte, 71-65, in overtime. Sophomore guard Monet Tellier leads the Hokies’ scoring with 18.8 points per game, while junior guard Alyssa Fenyn dominates the boards with 6.8 rebounds per game. Fenyn also posts 12.3 points per contest, while fellow classmate Aerial Wilson averages 12 points per game. Overall, Virginia Tech leads all tournament teams with a 41.0 field-goal percentage. 

Last Time Out
Quinnipiac picked up its first win of the year when it defeated Fairfield, 64-55, on Sunday, Nov. 20. The Bobcats’ Brittany McQuain earned her ninth career double-double as she led the game with 15 rebounds and a career-high 19 points. Quinnipiac held the Stags to a 32.8 field-goal percentage, while shooting 40.7 percent from the floor. The Bobcats also outrebounded Fairfield, 46-to-43.

Leading Lady
After scoring a career-high 19 points in the Bobcats’ most recent outing against Fairfield, sophomore Brittany McQuain leads the team in points (43) and rebounds (23) while averaging a team-high 14.3 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game. McQuain, a 5-11 forward, has already picked up two double-doubles during the 2011-12 season.

Barron Leading The Bobcats
Felicia Barron, a redshirt junior, has ranked second in points in each of the Bobcats three games during 2011-12. Barron scored double-figures, collecting 14 points at James Madison, 16 points at Holy Cross and 11 points in Quinnipiac’s win against Fairfield. She currently ranks second for the Bobcats in points per game (13.7).

Happenings At Holy Cross
Despite team highs from Brittany McQuain, including 18 points and 11 rebounds, Quinnipiac lost to Holy Cross, 80-70, on Nov. 16. Quinnipiac outrebounded Holy Cross, 41-39, forced 22 turnovers and tallied 13 steals in the non-conference game.

Barron Steals The Show
Redshirt Felicia Barron compiled a career-high eight steals at Holy Cross. The 5-7 guard currently leads the team with 15 steals and 15 assists.

Learn From Lebak
Junior guard Lisa Lebak compiled a season-high seven points and three rebounds against Holy Cross. She also scored the team’s only three-pointer of the game.

The  Details On Dunbar
Senior Jacinda Dunbar currently averages 5.3 points per game and 4.3 boards per game. Dunbar collected a season-high 10 points and five rebounds in the team’s loss at Holy Cross.

2011-12 Season Opener
Despite narrowing a 22-point deficit to only a one-point gap in the second half, Quinnipiac was unable to come back in its season opener against James Madison, who defeated the Bobcats, 81-73, on Friday, Nov. 11. Quinnipiac’s second-stanza comeback attempt was sparked by junior Felicia Barron and freshman Jasmine Martin. In the last 10 minutes of play, Barron tallied 10 points and three steals, while Martin scored 15 of her 20 game-points. Overall, Quinnipiac shot 33.3 percent from the floor and pulled down 47 rebounds.

Career Firsts For Camryn
Sophomore forward Camryn Warner compiled her first career double-double as she made her first career start for the Bobcats in their season opener against James Madison on Nov. 11. Warner tallied career highs, posting 12 points and a team-high 11 boards. Warner led all Bobcats in minutes played (30) in the team’s first game of the year.

All That Jazz
Freshman guard Jasmine Martin scored a game-high 20 points across 19 minutes in her first collegiate game against JMU. Martin scored 17 of her 20 points during the second half. She also added two rebounds and one steal in the outing. Martin currently ranks third on the team in points (38) and points per game (12.7)

Kari Kicks Off The Season
Senior guard Kari Goodchild went six-for-six on the free-throw line as she picked up nine points, three rebounds and an assist against James Madison. Goodchild has combined for 10 points and 15 rebounds so far this season.

Rookies Rule
Freshman point guard Gillian “Boo” Abshire has started in each of the Bobcats three games this season. She and fellow classmate Samantha Guastella, have both made an impact early in the year. Abshire has picked up eight points and nine rebounds, while Guastella has added 11 points and 13 rebounds in the Bobcats’ three games.

Three’s Company
Quinnipiac will be led by a trio of captains this season, including seniors Kari Goodchild and Jacinda Dunbar and junior Shelby Sferra.

Cast Of Coaches
Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri enters her 17th season with the Bobcats, posting a 221-230 overall record prio to the start of this year’s campaign. Assisting Coach Fabbri in their third and fifth seasons, respectively, are Mountain MacGillivray and Helen Ridley. Assistant Coach Danielle Brennan returns for her second year with the Bobcats, while Cary Simms joins the coaching staff in her first season as the Director of Basketball Operations.

2010-11 Standings
The Bobcats finished the 2010-11 season at 14-16 on the year and 11-7 in the Northeast Conference to clinch the seventh seed in the NEC Tournament. The Bobcats lost to No. 2 Monmouth, 55-36, in a semi-final game in their 11^th consecutive post-season appearance.

NEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll Predictions
The Bobcats were selected to finish sixth in the 2011-12 Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll after clinching the seventh seed in its 11^th consecutive NEC Tournament appearance last season. The 2011 NEC Regular Season and Tournament Champion, Saint Francis (Pa.), was picked to finish first in the poll with four first-place votes, while Robert Morris was tabbed second with two first-place nods. Long Island followed in third, while Monmouth and Sacred Heart were tied at fourth in the rankings, each receiving two-first place votes. Fairleigh Dickinson was the coaches’ seventh choice, followed by Bryant in the eighth position. Central Connecticut and Wagner were slated to finish in the 10^th and 11 slots, respectively, while by Mount St. Mary’s and St. Francis (N.Y.) rounded out the poll.

2011-12 Northeast Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
(First-Place Votes)
1. Saint Francis (Pa.) (4)
2. Robert Morris (2)
3. Long Island (2)
4. Monmouth (2)
     Sacred Heart (2)
6. Quinnipiac
7. Fairleigh Dickinson
8. Bryant
9. Central Connecticut
10. Wagner
11. Mount St. Mary’s
12. St. Francis (N.Y.)

What’s Ahead For Quinnipiac In 2011
After the Thanksgiving tournament, Quinnipiac continues non-conference play at home against Massachusetts on Nov. 29 before hosting its first NEC contests of the 2011-12 season against Bryant and Sacred Heart on Dec. 3 and Dec. 5, respectively. The Bobcats will then play non-league games at Rhode Island on Dec. 10 and against Yale on Dec. 20, prior to traveling to American on Dec. 28 and Army on Dec. 30.

Contact: Lindsay Oliveri, lmoliveri@quinnipiac.edu