Quinnipiac Chronicle Fantasy Picks

Posted on Oct 17, 2012 by Kerry Healy

: The Chronicle’s winter fantasy team is out. No, we aren’t talking about professional sports. We are talking about your Quinnipiac Bobcats. Here are our draft picks:

: No. 1 – Kelly Babstock – Babstock has already scored eight goals and recorded six assists in just four games. Last season, Babstock had 18 goals and 22 assists. She already made a name for herself during her freshman year when she took over the record books securing herself at the top of the charts for most points in a game (6), most points by a freshman for the season (59) and most assists by a freshman.

: No. 2 – Matthew Peca – After a standout freshman year, Peca will look to shine this season. Taking a look back on last season, Peca ranks eighth in the ECAC points standings right behind teammate Connor Jones with 39. He polished off last season with 31 assists, earning him the No. 3 spot in the ECAC assists rankings. If he can do this all as a freshman, what’s stopping him from taking it to the next level this season?

: No. 3 – Felicia Barron – As Barron enters her senior year, we are expecting her to top last season’s performances on the court. Barron ranked fifth for scoring last season in the Northeast Conference, averaging 16.7 points per game. Not only did Barron lead the NEC in steals last year but the entire nation with 4.1 steals per game. She tied the division I record with 12 steals on Dec. 3, 2011.

: No. 4 – Ike Azotam – After looking back at last season, it is clear that Azotam will be the team leader for this young group of Bobcats. Azotam led the NEC in rebounding averaging 9.5 rebounds per game. Alongside teammates Jamee Jackson and Ousmane Drame, Quinnipiac will continue to dominate the boards and only need to work on their offensive game after losing standout James Johnson.

: No. 5 – Jasmine Martin – Martin lit up TD Bank last season averaging 11.2 ppg as a freshman. I wouldn’t have known she was a freshman if I didn’t have my roster in front of me. She plays with poise and acts as a great team leader on the court. Martin shot 33% from the three point line sliding her into the number 10 spot in the NEC for top 3-point field goal percentages.

: No. 6 – Connor Jones – Jones placed seventh in the ECAC for points with 41 after collecting 13 goals and 28 assists in the 2011-2012 season. Jones also ranked fifth in assists with 28 after last season’s performance.

: No. 7 – Nicole Kosta – If you’ve been following women’s ice hockey this year, then this should come as no surprise. Kosta is on a roll right now. After Saturday’s 5-3 win against Maine, Kosta extended her points per game streak to 11 games. Kosta already has 10 assists on the season.

: Sleeper Pick – Jordan Samuels-Thomas – Expected to play on the Langlois/St. Denis line this season, Samuels-Thomas is a transfer out of Bowling Green who was restricted to the practice squad last year. In two years with the Falcons, Samuels-Thomas led the team in points, notching 25 and 21 in his freshman and sophomore years, respectively. In his first game with the Bobcats, Samuels-Thomas scored the game-winning goal with 1:26 remaining in a contest over Maine.

: Sleeper Pick – Gillian Abshire – You might be wondering why this is a pick, Abshire may not have put up the numbers like Barron, or even teammate Martin, but Abshire was the reason those players were scoring. I’m not surprised at all that Abshire was named captain as a sophomore, leading the team at point guard as a freshman is a huge for a team. To trust youth with being the playmaker shows exactly how important her role is. Watch for the assists this season, I’m sure they’ll be coming from her.

: Sleeper Pick – Ousmane Drame – The trio of Azotam, Jackson and Drame under the boards is unstoppable. Drame clocked in enough minutes last year to earn a spot in the fantasy lineup. If you went to the NEC tournament games, you understand how important this sophomore will be to the team this year. Along with the height for grabbing rebounds, Drame offers another option to go down low to the post for some offensive action.