When Quinnipiac University gets around to ranking the most memorable days in its athletic department's history, I would have to think that March 17, 2013 would have to pretty high up on the list.

It all began when the women's basketball program, after years of falling short in the Northeast Conference tournament, used a historically-suffocating defensive effort over perennial championship contender St. Francis (Pa.) to punch a ticket to the NCAA Division I tournament for the first time.

Then many of the fans headed across the hall to check out what proved to be a classic third and deciding game in the ECAC hockey playoffs with top-seeded Quinnipiac advancing in double overtime to the ECAC semifinals. I will have more on the Quinnipiac women's hoop team later on Monday but veteran women's basketball coach Tricia Fabbri talked about the magnitude of the day.

"Women's basketball had its day,". Fabbri said. "I said all year we are just trying to keep up with Rand (Pecknold) and the hockey team and I am glad we were able to cut down the net. I hope he keeps going forward and getting the ECAC, his championship there and he keeps it going in the NCAA. Rand's been here a year longer than I have and it is just great for the school and great that we are able to do this side by side. It was (Quinnipiac President) John Lahey's vision to put an arena up here when a lot of people were scratching their head and you look a few short years later what we have been able to accomplish at the university and be a part of something that is bigger, it is just fantastic."

I was fortunate to be at the state of the art TD Bank Sports Center for both events. OK, actually I only witnessed the second overtime of the hockey game, but it was more than enough time to get the essence of the day for both programs led by coaches who were around before the Bobcats were even a Division I program never mind playing in one of the best athletic venues in the state.

There will be more joy for the Bobcats when they see where and who they will play in the women's tournament tomorrow. The early money is that the Bobcats will be either a 12 or 13 seed and will either play in the University of Delaware or University of Maryland subregionals.