Women's Basketball Opens NEC Play Against Bryant On Saturday, Dec. 3 At Noon

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats (4-2, 0-0 NEC) vs.
Bryant University Bulldogs (4-2, 0-0 NEC)
Saturday, December 3, 2011 – 12:00 p.m.
TD Bank Sports Center – Hamden, Conn.

Bobcats Begin NEC Play
The Quinnipiac University women’s basketball team (4-2, 0-0 NEC) opens Northeast Conference play when it hosts Bryant University (4-2, 0-0 NEC) on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Noon at the TD Bank Sports Center in Hamden, Conn. The Bobcats enter Saturday’s game after defeating Massachusetts, 66-63, for their fourth straight win of the year, while the Bulldogs beat Rhode Island, 75-62, in their most recent outing.

Multimedia
Live stats, video and audio of Tuesday’s game 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 game live with Bill Schweizer, Bill Mecca and Bob Tipson on AM-1220 WQUN.

Scouting Bryant
The Bulldogs enter Saturday’s match-up at 4-2 overall. Bryant has earned wins against Colgate, 76-74, Maine, 65-53, Brown, 64-49, and most recently, Rhode Island, 75-62. The team’s only losses this year have been to Iona, 66-53, and Boston College, 68-42. Junior guard Katie Whittington leads the Bulldogs with 22 assists and 11.8 points per game, while sophomore Naana Ankoma-Mensa ranks second on the team in points per game (11.8). Ankoma-Mensa and senior Brittany Stahura each post a team-leading seven rebounds per game and 15 steals on the season. Whittington currently leads the team from behind the arc as she’s converted 13-of-32 three-pointers for a 40.6 shooting percentage. The Bulldogs’ starting five are each shooting above 30 percent from the floor.

All-Time Against The Bulldogs
Bryant currently leads the all-time series with Quinnipiac, 19-15. The Bobcats earned two wins against the Bulldogs last season on Jan. 17, 85-74, and Feb. 21, 81-67. Each of Quinnipiac’s starters totaled double figures in the team’s most recent victory against the Bulldogs last year. Felicia Barron scored a game-high 21 points and Brittany McQuain posted a double-double with 15 points and 14 boards.

Last Time Out
Quinnipiac defeated the Minutewomen of Massachusetts, 66-63, in its most recent contest on Tuesday, Nov. 29. Three Bobcats posted double figures, including Brittany McQuain who registered a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds, Camryn Warner who tallied a career-high 13 points, and Jasmine Martin who scored 11 points on the night. Quinnipiac forced 22 turnovers in the non-conference contest, which resulted in 26 points on the other end. In addition, the Bobcats’ bench accounted for a third of the team’s total points, combining for 24 points in total. Overall, Quinnipiac out-rebounded UMass, 49-to-44. The Bobcats’ 22 offensive rebounds led to 16 second-chance points.

National Recognition
Junior guard Felicia Barron was named National Mid-Major Women’s Basketball Player of the Week by College Sports Madness on Monday, Nov. 28 after receiving Most Valuable Player honors as the Bobcats won the Saint Mary’s Concord Hilton Classic Championship. Barron currently leads Quinnipiac with 83 points on the year for a team-high 13.8 points per game. Barron also leads the team in steals (31) and assists (22).

NEC Rookie Of The Week
Freshman guard Jasmine Martin was named Choice Hotels/Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week as announced by the league office on Monday, Nov. 28. The 5-8 guard turned in back-to-back 13-point performances in two-point victories over Minnesota and Saint Mary’s. In addition to scoring the game-winner against Minnesota, Martin also shot 7-for-7 from the free-throw line at Saint Mary’s Thanksgiving tournament.

Saint Mary’s Concord Hilton Classic: Round One 
Quinnipiac advanced to the championship game of the Saint Mary’s tournament with a 64-62 win against Big Ten opponent Minnesota on Nov. 25. Jasmine Martin scored the game-winner in the final seconds of play to give Quinnipiac the victory over the Gophers. Four Bobcats scored double-figures, including Felicia Barron, who scored a game-high 18 points. Martin and senior Kari Goodchild tallied 13 points and 10 points, respectively, while Brittany McQuain posted the team’s only double-double, with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Overall, the Bobcats’ outrebounded Minnesota, 42-to-38.

Saint Mary’s Concord Hilton Classic: Championship Round
Quinnipiac won the Saint Mary’s Concord Hilton Classic after defeating Saint Mary’s, 69-67, in the championship game of the Thanksgiving tournament on Nov. 26. The Bobcats’ offensive efforts were led by Felicia Barron who scored a game-high 17 points. In addition, Brittany McQuain posted her 11th career double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Jasmine Martin compiled 13 points on the night. Overall, the game saw six lead changes, while the score was tied eight times. The Bobcats collected 12 steals and forced 20 turnovers in the non-conference contest. In addition, the team shot 47.4 percent from three-point range.

Double Trouble
Quinnipiac’s Brittany McQuain has collected five double-doubles this season for 12 career double-doubles in total. McQuain leads the Bobcats with 10.7 rebounds per game. She also ranks second on the team, close behind Barron, in points per game (13.5). McQuain’s six blocks on the year rank first among the Bobcats. 

Martin Makes Moves
Jasmine Martin currently ranks third on the team in points per game, averaging 12.5 points per contest early in her rookie season. Martin scored a game and career-high 20 points in the Bobcats’ season opener against James Madison.

Opponents Be Warned
Sophomore forward Camryn Warner has started in each of the Bobcats’ six games this season. Warner currently ranks second on the team in boards per game (6.8) and averages eight points per contest.

Facts From The Floor
Brittany McQuain is currently shooting a team-high 40.7 percent (33-for-81) from the floor.

Senior Stats
Senior captains Kari Goodchild and Jacinda Dunbar continue to lead the Bobcats from the court this season. Goodchild currently averages 4.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while Dunbar posts 3.8 points and 4.3 boards per contest.

Keep It Up Cannon
Junior Ellen Cannon made her first appearance of the 2011-12 season in the Quinnipiac’s win over UMass. Cannon registered three points in the victory as she hit one of the team’s four three-pointers in the outing.

Fierce Freshmen
Gillian Abshire has started from the point-guard position in each of Quinnipiac’s six games, averaging two points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Fellow classmate Samantha Guastella has also made an impact this year as she currently posts 4.3 points and 3.5 boards per game.

Taking Over
The Bobcats currently average a +5.7 turnover margin, forcing 20.3 turnovers per game. Quinnipiac also averages 10.2 steals per game.

What’s Ahead For Quinnipiac In 2011
Quinnipiac continues NEC play when it hosts Sacred Heart on Monday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. The Bobcats will then play non-league games at Rhode Island on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. and against Yale on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 4 p.m., prior to traveling to American on Wednesday, Dec. 28 and Army on Friday, Dec. 30, both of which will start at 7 p.m.

Contact: Lindsay Oliveri, lmoliveri@quinnipiac.edu