FAIRFIELD, Conn. (Interstat) — A surging Quinnipiac squad looks to rebound from a rare conference loss when it visits Sacred Heart in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball matchup Saturday at the William Pitt Center. The Bobcats (21-5, 13-2 MAAC), who saw a seven-game win streak snapped in a 75-63 home loss to Fairfield on Feb. 14, remain atop the league standings. They will face a Pioneers team (12-14, 8-7) seeking consistency after alternating wins and losses over its past six contests. Quinnipiac boasts a potent offense, averaging 71.2 points per game in MAAC play, and features a balanced attack. A key catalyst is sophomore guard Ella O’Donnell, who enters on a strong run. Over her last eight games, O’Donnell is averaging 13.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists, including an 18-point effort in a Jan. 29 road win over these same Pioneers. Sacred Heart, coming off a 62-57 home loss to Merrimack on Thursday, will rely on senior forward Emma Kirby. She is coming off a season-high 18-point performance in that defeat and has averaged 12.0 points over her last three outings. Kirby’s interior presence, including a nine-rebound game against Fairfield on Jan. 31, will be vital against a physical Quinnipiac frontcourt. The Bobcats won the season’s first meeting decisively, 65-49, in Hamden on Jan. 10. In that game, Quinnipiac’s defense stifled Sacred Heart, holding the Pioneers to 30.2% shooting from the field. For Quinnipiac, maintaining defensive intensity will be paramount. Prior to the Fairfield loss, they had held opponents to 55 points or fewer in five straight victories. Sacred Heart, which averages a conference-low 57.9 points per game, must find offensive rhythm early to challenge the league leaders. The game tips off at 2 p.m. EST. Quinnipiac will host Niagara next on Feb. 26, while Sacred Heart travels to face Mount Saint Mary’s on the same date.