Senior Felicia Barron carried the Bobcats with 19 points and four rebounds while junior Brittany McQuain turned in her second straight double-double performance with 12 points and 13 rebounds as the Quinnipiac University women’s basketball team cruised past the Bryant Bulldogs, 85-62, at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, R.I Monday.
The Bobcats improve to 12-2 overall, including a 4-0 mark in NEC competition, to continue the program’s best start since 2007-08 campaign.
Four different Quinnipiac players finished in double figures, led by Barron's 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor. Sophomore Gillian Abshire compiled a career high of 10 assists while also adding eight points and three steals. Sophomore Nikoline Ostergaard recorded 10 points and five rebounds against the Bulldogs.
The Bobcats controlled the tempo for the majority of the first half as Barron sparked a 16-2 run to start the game from the opening. Quinnipiac held Bryant scoreless for the next five minutes as the Bobcats added 14 more points before hitting a 19-point lead, 23-4, with 10-minutes to play in the first frame. Bryant responded, outscoring Quinnipiac 20-11 over the final 10 minutes of the first half to head into the break, 34-24.
Quinnipiac was able to hang on to their lead through the second half as Jasmine Martin had 10 points in the second half to finish with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists in the outing. Freshman Maria Napolitiano added nine points and three rebounds.
Katie Winnington led the Bulldogs in scoring with 16 points and three assists. As Naana Ankoma-Mensa added 15 points and 20 rebounds for her sixth double- double on the year. Despite trailing in the all-time series, 18-19, Quinnipiac is 5-0 over the last five meetings with Bryant.
The Bobcats travel to Pennsylvania this weekend as they will take on the Robert Morris Colonials on Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Charles L. Sewall Center in Moon Township, Pa. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. The Colonials are currently 3-11 overall and 2-1 in NEC action.
Fans interested in purchasing season tickets for the 2012-13 campaign can call the QU Ticket Office at 203-582-3905, visit the official website of Quinnipiac athletics,www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com<http://www.quinnipiacbobcats.com/> or make a trip to the TD Bank Sports Center Ticket Office.
