Ending its fifth season in Division I competition, the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team has established itself as more than just a growing team. It has worked to become one of the most solid teams in Quinnipiac athletics and this season has truly proven they have the capabilities of a Division I program. Improving upon last years 10-8 conference record, this year’s team went 14-4 in the NEC, posting its best record at the Division I level. The team finished second in the NEC regular season, making it their best year since joining the league.
Quinnipiac finished the season with 18 victories and could not have done so without the leadership of eighth-year head coach Tricia Sacca-Fabbri. The 2002-2003 squad, made up of two seniors, four juniors, five sophomores and two freshmen was picked to finish sixth in the league in preseason polls. The lady Bobcats come in a close second, right behind St. Francis of PA., falling short by only percentage points.
The team proved doubters wrong, demonstrating that they could create a winning program regardless of the loss of four strong graduated seniors who always proved to have very consistent performances for the former Braves team.
2003 Northeast Conference Player of the Year, Ashlee Kelly had another record breaking season. Kelly, who received the team’s MVP award, led the Bobcats with 14.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last season. Leading the league with 19 double-doubles, she also led the league in rebounding and ranked fifth nationally.
One outstanding player, who will be returning to the Bobcats is junior guard Sara Esidore. Esidore scored her 1,000th point versus Mount St. Mary’s this season and ended the year with a career point total at 1,015 points. Esidore currently owns the Bobcats all-time three-point record with 132 and is tied for first on the single-season list with 51 made three-point baskets this season. Esidore is averaged 15.6 points per game.
Since joining the North East Conference for the 1998-1999 season, Quinnipiac has appeared in four of five league tournaments and continues to persevere and improve every season.
