The Fairfield University women's basketball team returns to action on Sunday, December 19 as it hosts St. Francis (NY) at Alumni Hall. The Stags, 5-3 on the year, return to action for the first time in 10 days, since defeating Columbia, 50-46. The Terriers are 1-6 on the season, having earned their first victory of the year in their last outings, 63-55 over IUPUI at home.
The two teams are meeting for 13th time with the Stags holding a 7-5 edge in the series. Fairfield has won back-to-back games in the series, and four of the last five contests. The Stags defeated the Terriers last season, 62-46 in Brooklyn, after winning at home, 65-51, during
Joe Frager's first season, December 22, 2007. The first meeting came during the 1975-76 season, a win 61-57 win by the Terriers.
St. Francis earned its first win of the season in its last outing, December 12, with a 63-55 home win over IUPUI. Autumn Lau led the team that day with 16 points and has been the team's high scorer in five games this season, averaging a team-best 11.7 points per game. Tiara Dunson is the team's leading rebounder, 5.0 per game, while Kayla Williams has handed out a team-best 16 assists. The Terriers are shooting 33.8 percent from the field on the year, to average 44.7 points per game. Opponents are scoring 62.7 points per game by shooting 38.4 percent from the field, committing 9.0 fewer turnovers per game, and out-rebounding the Terriers by 9.2 per contest.
Fairfield's defense has now held five of its eight opponents to 50 or less points and held three teams (George Mason, Lafayette & Villanova) to less than 40 points. The Stags are allowing opponent to shoot just 34.7 percent from the field, 41st in the nation, while giving up a league-leading 50.3 points per game. The Stags defensive efforts are good behind the arc as well, where its eight foes have hit just 25.7 percent of the time, 32nd nationally and tops in the MAAC.
Joelle Nawrocki has led the Stags in scoring in each of the last tow games and in three games this season. Over the last two games she has also handed out six assists, contributing to nearly 30 percent of the team's offense in the two games. She enters today's contest third on the team at 7.8 points per game. She is shooting an impressive 60 percent from behind the arc (9-15) and is hitting 54.2 percent of all of her shots.
The Fairfield women's basketball team is asking for your support at its next home game on Wednesday by supporting the program's efforts with the United Way Backpack Program. All fans that donate $5 or more to the cause will receive a free ticket to the Stags January 8 MAAC home opener against Iona College. The Backpack Program began two years ago, benefitting approximately 100 Bridgeport elementary age students. Today, the program has expanded to nearly 400 students in Bridgeport, as well as 24 students in Norwalk. The program runs throughout the academic calendar and provides insecure elementary school students with discreetly-distributed food to take home for the weekend.
