Bobcats have another home letdown

By Robert Schilling

(HAMDEN, Conn.) – Three straight home games, three consecutive losses.  That’s been the story for the QU women’s basketball team, as they were victims of their own poor shooting in a 70-64 loss to Mount St. Mary’s Monday night at the TD Banknorth Sports Center.

The Bobcats shot just 32.9 percent from the field, while the Mount connected on 44.2 percent of their shots, including 9-of-20 from 3-point range.

Erin Kerner led the Bobcats (12-8, 6-5 NEC) with 16 points, but did so on 5-of-21 shooting.  Mandy Pennewell added 15 points of her own, while Kathleen Neyens contributed 12.

For Mount St. Mary’s (9-12, 4-7 NEC), Brianna Gauthier scored a game-high 21 points, including four 3-pointers, and Leah Westbrooks controlled the boards with 15 rebounds.

After the Mount had cemented a 15-point halftime lead from a combination of their hot shooting with QU’s cold, the Bobcats began to chip away in the second, beginning with a 10-0 run to start the half.   The Bobcats implemented a full court press that led to 20 MSM turnovers on the night and let QU right back into the thick of things.

Sarah McGowan dove out of bounds and into press row to save the ball to a teammate with 14:40 to play, and that seemed like it would be a turning point.  Quinnipiac would get the score as close as three, but just couldn’t get over the hump.  Down the stretch, it was a matter of knocking down free throws, which the Mount did, and the Bobcats were victims of another similar result.

Quinnipiac will attempt to turn things around on Saturday when they play host to Bryant at noon.

Click here to view the box score from this game.

Bobcats edged out at home

By Robert Schilling

(HAMDEN, Conn.) – Just 17 points on 24.1 percent shooting from the field was too much for the Quinnipiac Bobcats women’s basketball team to overcome Saturday afternoon.  Long Island University escaped the TD Banknorth Sports Center with a 52-49 victory behind 38 points scored in the paint.

LIU forward Chelsi Johnson led all scorers with 20 points, but it was her missed shot with 21 seconds left in the game that gave the Bobcats a chance to take the lead, trailing 50-49.

QU senior guard Mandy Pennewell was able to dribble penetrate into the paint, but missed a contested runner with five seconds left.  LIU guard Connie James sealed the game with two free throws, and a desperation heave from half court at the buzzer fell short for Quinnipiac (12-7, 6-4 NEC).

Bobcats leading scorer Erin Kerner was held scoreless in the first half, but exploded after the break for 18 second half points to lead the team.  That wasn’t enough for QU to overcome 16 turnovers and 35.7 percent shooting from the field, including just two 3-pointers.

Freshman forward Jacinda Dunbar was a bright spot for Quinnipiac, as she scored 10 points, including the first six of the game for the Bobcats.  She could not avoid foul trouble though, and was limited to only 19 minutes on the afternoon.

LIU (7-13, 2-7 NEC) was able to capitalize from Dunbar’s foul problems by bruising the Bobcats in the paint on offense.  Aside from eight free throws and two made 3-pointers, all of the Blackbirds points were from inside the key.

Quinnipiac drops to fourth in the NEC, and will look to rebound at home on Monday against Mount St. Mary’s.  The tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Click here to view the boxscore from this game.

Bobcats grind out victory over Monmouth, win first conference game

By Robert Schilling

(HAMDEN, Conn.)—The  Bobcats capped off their four-game home-stand with their fourth straight victory Saturday afternoon in their first conference game of the year.  The Quinnipiac women’s basketball team defeated Monmouth University 57-52 behind senior Erin Kerner’s 14 points, while junior Krystal Lazos added 10.  Clutch defense down the stretch and a 16-for-18 showing from the free throw line helped the Bobcats fend off the Hawks.

Monmouth took control of the game early.  The Bobcats had no answer for Jennifer Bender (15 points, 10 rebounds) in the first half as she was able to get to the basket at will, and she and teammate Lakia Barber (13 points, 7 rebounds) controlled the boards.  QU started ice cold from the field and didn’t score until senior Brianna Rooney (7 points, 9 rebounds) hit a pair of free throws over three minutes in.  They didn’t have a field goal until Rooney made a breakaway layup a little less than five minutes in.

The Bobcats began to show more patience offensively and got better shots, and as a result were able to work their way into the lead.  Made baskets allowed QU to set up their full-court and half-court presses, which contributed to 15 Monmouth turnovers on
the afternoon and nine steals.  Quinnipiac led at the half, 32-29.

The second half was a grinder just like the first.  QU was able to contain Bender, and she could only match her 13 first half points with two in the second.   Nevertheless, Monmouth stayed in the game with hard work on the offensive glass, as they had 15 offensive rebounds on the day.  Barber picked up where Bender left off, with 11 points and five rebounds after the break.

Just when it seemed like Monmouth would take the lead, QU had an answer.  Lazos and freshman Jacinda Dunbar contributed a pair of timely 3-point plays, and the Bobcat defense continued to plague the Hawks and led to turnovers and steals.

With 27 seconds left to play and trailing by three, the Hawks had one last chance.  Marisa Jimenez hoisted up a contested three point shot that fell short, and Lazos grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 2.7 seconds left on the clock.  She hit both free throws, and the Bobcats prevailed 57-52.

Quinnipiac moves to 7-1 (1-0 NEC) and Monmouth falls to 4-3 (0-1 NEC).  The Bobcats now begin a month-long road trip and don’t return to the TD Banknorth Sports Center until Jan. 10.  Their next game is at Wagner on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m.

Click here to view the box score from this game.

Bobcats clip Hawks for third straight win

By Robert Schilling

(HAMDEN, Conn.)—Five players scored in double digits for the Quinnipiac Bobcats women’s basketball team Wednesday night at the TD Banknorth Sports Center, helping them down Hartford University, 73-61.  The balanced attack was led by senior Mandy Pennewell who scored 13 points on 3-for-5 shooting from three-point land. Senior Brianna Rooney threw in 12 points, while Erin Kerner, Kathleen Neyens and Felicia Barron all contributed 11 points of their own.

Efficiency from the free throw line and the three-point line was the key to the Bobcats victory.  They shot 20-of-26 from the charity stripe (76.9 percent) as a team, with Rooney leading the way going 7-for-8.  Pennewell led QU from long distance (3-for-5) as they shot 7-for13 collectively (53.8 percent).

Quinnipiac improves to 3-0 on their current homestand and to 6-1 overall, as Hartford drops to 4-4.  The Bobcats will look to finish off a sweep of their four-game homestand on Saturday when they will face Monmouth University in their first conference game at noon.

Bobcats endure first loss of season in TD Banknorth Classic final

By Robert Schilling

The women’s basketball suffered their first defeat of the season Sunday afternoon at the hands of Michigan State.  The Spartans routed the Bobcats in the final of the TD Banknorth Classic in Burlington, Vt., by a score of 81-48.

Senior Erin Kerner led Quinnipiac with 13 points, but she was the only Bobcat to hit double figures.  The shooting percentages for each team told the story of the afternoon, as QU shot just 26.2 percent from the field, and an icy 12 percent from three-point range.  The Spartans were the polar opposite, shooting 62.2 percent from the field and 50 percent from downtown.  Allyssa DeHaan led the Spartans with a game-high 21 points.

The Bobcats (3-1) will look to rebound when they take on Delaware (2-1) Tuesday night at the TD Banknorth Sports Center.  Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Click here to view the box score from this game.

Women defeat Vermont in opening game of TD Banknorth Classic

By Robert Schilling

The Quinnipiac women’s basketball team built on their impressive start to the season by improving to 3-0 this afternoon with a 72-53 rout of Vermont in the first game of the TD Banknorth Classic in Burlington, Vt.

Quinnipiac had a balanced attack as four players reached double digits in points.  Freshman Felicia Barron led the Bobcats with 17 points, junior Sarah McGowan and senior Mandy Pennewell poured in 15 points each and senior Erin Kerner added 12.  McGowan was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field (including 3-for-3 from distance), as QU shot 47.6 percent (10-for-21) from three-point range as a team.  Solid defense from the Bobcats also contributed to the victory, holding the Catamounts to just 31.6 percent from the field.

Quinnipiac now awaits the winner of the Dartmouth/Michigan State matchup (tip-off 3 p.m.)  They will meet either the Big Green or the Spartans in the championship game tomorrow afternoon.  The tip is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Click here to view the box score from this game.