The Quinnipiac Women’s Basketball team held its final practice in Hamden Wednesday afternoon before flying out to northern California Thursday morning.
The team has already made history by winning the program’s first two NCAA Tournament games. The Bobcats will look to make it three in a row with an upset of top seeded South Carolina on Saturday.
“Making history is something, but making history twice, unreal and it’s really hard to explain the feeling,” said senior guard Adily Martucci.
A two-step ladder brought to center court after practice represents the run by the team so far in the Big Dance.
“We won the first two games and those two steps are gone and we kind of needed a bigger ladder," Martiucci said.
So at the send-off pep rally outside the TD Bank Sports Center, Head Coach Tricia Fabbri fired up fans and students from inside the bucket on a Hamden fire truck ladder.
“The way that we were going to get the recognition was winning the game in the tournament and the fact that we were able to do that has brought all the attention that is deserved,” Fabbri told NBC Connecticut.
Local
Sharp shooting by senior Morgan Manz from three point range helped the 12th seeded Bobcats shock 4th seeded Miami Hurricanes on their home floor in the round of 32.
“When you think of Connecticut basketball teams, you think of UConn and now I think it’s really nice Quinnipiac is getting on the map because this program, Tricia has brought this program to high standards,” Manz said.
Like the players who proudly represent their university, the students are relishing in their team’s success.
“I’ve had the pleasure of getting very close with them throughout the years and to see them go this far, it’s incredible for this school, state of Connecticut,” said QU junior Liam Kenney. “People actually know how to pronounce our name now.”
There will be a watch party Saturday afternoon at the TD Bank Sports Center when Quinnipiac and South Carolina tip off at 4 P.M. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN.
