HAMDEN, Conn. – Behind a light's out shooting effort, the Quinnipiac women's basketball team (5-3) emerged victorious in the Battle of Whitney Ave., downing Yale (4-6), 75-59, Wednesday evening inside of M&T Bank Arena.
Quinnipiac shot 26-for-50 (52.0%), as the Bobcats saw four players reach double-figures in scoring, led by Jackie Grisdale's 20 points. Cur'Tiera Haywood added 15 points, Mary Baskerville totaled 13 points and Rose Caverly chipped in 11 of her own.
The Bobcats got off to a hot start, making eight of their first 11 shots en route to jumping out to a 22-10 lead behind eight swift points from Grisdale.
Quinnipiac maintained momentum through the end of the frame, taking a 24-10 lead into the second quarter, holding the Bulldogs to 4-for-13 (30.8%) from the floor in the period.
The Bobcats kept it rolling in the second quarter, using the first 4:32 of the period to outscore the Bulldogs 8-4, capped by a corner three-pointer from Grace LaBarge.
Quinnipiac kept the defensive pressure on Yale in the second quarter, forcing the Bulldogs to shoot 5-for-15 (33.3%) in the period as the Bobcats carried a 37-23 lead into the break.
The two sides were nearly even through the first five minutes of play, with Quinnipiac holding a 46-32 lead in the contest. However, the Bobcats followed with a swift 8-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Ella O'Donnell in transition to extend Quinnipiac's lead to 54-32 with 3:52 left in the third.
The Bobcats maintained its distance, carrying a 19-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Yale used the opening 1:45 of the fourth to go on an 8-2 run, trimming the Quinnipiac lead to 59-46 in the contest. However, Haywood halted the run with an old-fashioned three-point play to push Quinnipiac ahead by 15.
The Bobcats never looked back in the contest, holding on for the eventual 75-59 victory in the Battle of Whitney Ave.
NUMBERS AND NOTES
- The Bobcats remained undefeated at home on the campaign, moving to 4-0 inside of M&T Bank Arena in 2022-23
- Since the 2012-13 season, Quinnipiac owns a record of 117-24 (.830) in games played at home
- Leading from start-to-end, the Bobcats never trailed in the contest
- The Bobcats held Yale to 22-for-60 (36.7%) shooting from the floor
- Jackie Grisdale led all scorers with a season-best 20 points
- Ella O'Donnell tallied six points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block
- O'Donnell's 11 rebounds set a new career-high for the rookie
- Mary Baskerville contributed 13 points, five rebounds, four blocks and four steals
- With four blocks, Baskerville has totaled nine blocks in her last two contests
- Cur'Tiera Haywood added 15 points, four rebounds and three steals
- Haywood has reached double-figures in points in six of Quinnipiac's eight games
NEXT UP
- Quinnipiac will be back in action on Sunday, Dec. 11, when the Bobcats play host to URI in a rematch of last season's WNIT First Round contest
- Tip-off from M&T Bank Arena is set for 12 p.m.
- Tickets can be purchased HERE
To stay up to date with all Quinnipiac women's basketball news, follow the program on Twitter/Instagram @QU_WBB or visit www.gobobcats.com/wbb.
