ESPNU to Feature a Women's Basketball Contest this Week
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. – On Thursday, Fairfield University will host Rider University at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. at 6 p.m. on ESPN3 and on Friday, Marist College will host Quinnipiac University at McCann Arena in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. at 5 p.m. on ESPNU. The two broadcast will be featured live as part of the MAAC ESPN broadcast package.
The Fairfield University women’s basketball team enters the week at 15-8 overall and 10-4 in MAAC play, which is tied for third place. The Stags knocked off first-place Marist College, 72-68, in front of a sellout crowd at McCann Arena, in Poughkeepsie last Saturday. Fairfield had four players score in double figures as they defeated the Red Foxes for the first time since Feb. 09, 2010. Katie Cizynski finished with 20 points, Felicia DaCruz scored 14 points, Alexys Vazquez added 16 points, and Brittany Obi-Tabot registered 10 points for the Stags. The Stags rank second in the league in scoring defense (62 points per game), three-point field goal percentage (36.3%), and rebounding defense (35.4 per game). Senior forward Katie Cizynski leads Fairfield and ranks fourth in the MAAC in scoring (15.9 points per game) and defensive rebounds (6 per game). Cizynski also ranks fifth in rebounding, grabbing 8.3 per game and field goal percentage, shooting 49.8%. Cizynski was named MAAC Player of the Week on Dec. 30. Senior guard Alexys Vasquez ranks second in the league in three-pointers made, knocking down 2.9 per contest and sixth in three-point field goal percentage, making 42.7% of her attempts. Senior center Brittany Obi-Tabot ranks fifth in the MAAC in offensive rebounds (6.7 per game) and sixth in total rebounds (6.7 per game). Junior guard Felicia DaCruz ranks third in assists dishing out 5.2 per game and in assist to turnover ratio with a 3.0 ratio.
The Rider University women’s basketball team currently sits in fifth place with an 8-6 league mark and 12-11 overall record. The Broncs pulled off the biggest win of the week when they defeated first place and previously unbeaten in conference action Iona College 92-90 in an overtime thriller on Thursday night’s ESPN3 broadcast. The win for the Broncs ended the Gaels 18-game winning streak, which was the fourth longest in the country. MAAC Player of the Week, MyNeshia McKenzie, was named the Pepsi Max Player of the Game after she recorded a double double with a Rider record of 37 points and 19 rebounds. The Broncs currently rank second in the league in turnover margin posting a plus 3.1 and third in the league in scoring defense, three-point field goal percentage defense, and blocked shots. McKenzie leads the league in minutes played averaging 37 minutes per game. She ranks second in the MAAC in scoring, rebounding, defensive rebounds, and double-doubles. McKenzie was named MAAC Player of the Week on Jan. 06 and Feb. 10. Freshman forward Julia Duggan was named Rookie of the Week on Jan. 13 and Feb. 10.
The Stags won the first meeting of the season series against the Broncs 67-61 on Dec. 29 in Lawrenceville, N.J. Both Fairfield and Rider are on a three game win streak, which is currently tied as the longest active streak in the league.
Marist College is currently second in the league at 13-2 and 19-6 overall. The Red Foxes lead the MAAC in scoring defense (58.5 points per game), scoring margin (plus 11.3), field goal percentage (45.6%), and field goal percentage defense (38.3%). Senior forward Emma O’Connor leads the league in field goal percentage shooting 55.2% from the field and seventh in scoring averaging 13.6 points per game. O’Connor was named MAAC Player of the Week on Jan. 20. Sophomore Madeline Blais ranks second in the MAAC in three-point field goal percentage shooting 49.5% from behind the arc and sixth in scoring registering 13.7 points per contest. Senior guard Leanne Ockenden ranks fourth in steals per game averaging 1.8 per outing and was named MAAC Player of the Week on Nov. 25.
The Quinnipiac University Bobcats sit in a tie with Fairfield in third place at 10-4 in the MAAC and 15-9 overall. The Bobcats are on a three game win streak and tied with Fairfield and Rider for the longest active current streak in the league. Quinnipiac is coming off of a 2-0 week where they defeated Monmouth on Friday 83-67 and Canisius on Sunday 65-51. The Bobcats lead the league in offensive rebounding (40.7 per game), rebounding margin (plus 0.8), assists per game (16.6) turnover margin (plus 4.5), and assist to turnover ratio (1.2). Senior forward Brittany McQuain ranks third in the MAAC in rebounding per game (9.1), second in offensive rebounds per game (3.5), and third in steals per game (1.9). Senior guard Jasmine Martin leads the Bobcats and ranks fifth in the conference in scoring, averaging 15.2 points per game. Gillian Abshire leads the MAAC in assists per game with a 6.8 average and assists to turnover ratio at 3.4. Samantha Guastella ranks third in blocked shots and three-point field goals made.
The two teams met during the first women’s TV broadcast of the season and the inaugural MAAC league contest for Quinnipiac back on Dec. 06 when the Red Foxes defeated the Bobcats 69-63 on ESPN3 at the TD Bank Sports Center.