Fearless and focused, Quinnipiac is enjoying this season as MAAC hunter rather than hunted

Tricia Fabbri looks on as Quinnipiac battles Saint Peter’s. (Photo by Ray Floriani/Daly Dose Of Hoops)

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

Special to Daly Dose of Hoops

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Do not write them off. 

In the pundits’ estimation, the changing of personnel brought Quinnipiac back to earth. Well, the pundits may not be right about this after all. 

On Thursday evening, the Bobcats came into Yanitelli Center and left posting a convincing 91-64 victory over Saint Peter’s. Quinnipiac is 9-9 overall, but more importantly, 6-3 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play with victories in five of its last six conference games.

“First off, we came into the game with (Mikala) Morris out with an ankle injury,” head coach Tricia Fabbri noted. “Our first half tonight was good. Our third quarter was absolutely great.” 

The Bobcats went on an 11-2 run in the opening minutes of that stanza, raising an 11-point halftime lead expanded to 20. Quinnipiac never looked back. The key to that third period began with 1.4 seconds left in the first half, on a sideline inbounds play Fabbri adopted from Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens.

“That’s a little play we picked up from him,” she said. “That basket gave us a lift. We talked about that at halftime and how we could build on that momentum when we came out the second half. We did just that.”

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Fabbri calls February an exciting time of the year. Her group has a lot to be excited about. Among her starting five this season are one freshman, one sophomore, and one junior. There is a learning curve. 

“It took everyone a while to figure out what we want to do defensively,” Fabbri said. “I cannot say we’re still a young team, as over half the season is gone, but we are still a new group.”

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Offensively, Quinnipiac was led by senior forward Taylor Herd, with a game-high 22 points.  Herd was effective inside, then stepped out to knock down four 3-pointers.

“That is a trademark in my recruiting,’ Fabbri said. “We want versatility. Our guards can post up, our bigs can put the ball on the floor and drive. We’ve been recruiting versatility for years.”

The offense, never the issue, is favorable. The defense, the concern, is coming around. Fabbri is excited and enjoying it all. 

“This is fun,” she exclaimed. “The last few seasons, we were the favorite and expected to go through the conference and go undefeated,” she said. “Now, we’re not the target. We’re considered in the mix. In a way, there’s less pressure and we’re having a lot of fun with it all.”

   

The MAAC tournament, in Atlantic City, is another source of excitement for the Quinnipiac mentor, a Delran native who proudly embraces her roots in the southern portion of the Garden State. 

“I am a South Jersey native,” she said. “We recruit New Jersey. To have the tournament in Atlantic City and such a great venue is so exciting. I can’t wait.”