The Fairfield University women's basketball game completes a season-long four-game road trip on Thursday night, as it takes on its second Ivy League opponent of the year, Columbia University. The Stags enter the game at 4-3 on the year and looking to snap a two-game slide, while the Lions are in search of their first win at 0-7.
Tonight's contest is the first women's basketball meeting between the two schools. The four-game trip is the longest of the Fairfield tenure of
Joe Frager.Fans can listen to all the action live on
WVOF 88.5FM as John Cummings calls all the action. For other viewing options, visit Columbia's
athletic website.
Fairfield's defense has limited five of its seven opponents to 52 or fewer points, including allowing Villanova to score just 30 points, George Mason 37 and Lafayette 39. The team's 50.9 points allowed per game is the 14th best number in the nation, through December 5. Fairfield is allowing opponents to shoot 34.7 percent from the floor, 38th nationally, and 25.8 percent from downtown, which is 46th nationally.
The Stags had a season-high four players score in double-figures against Hofstra, and shot a season-best 52.8 percent from the field in that game. Fairfield handed out 15 assists in that game, more than it had in its two previous games (Lafayette and Villanova)
Fairfield has scored 70 or more points in regulation 17 times under
Joe Frager and is now 16-1 in those games. All told the Stags have scored 70 or more 19 times during the four seasons with Frager at the helm, going 17-2 in those games, including an 87-78 triple overtime loss at Iona, and a 73-65 win over Marist in one overtime. The Stags had won 27 consecutive games in which they scored 70 or more points in regulation before Sunday, last falling to Loyola 78-72 on February 25, 2006.
After Thursday the Stags have a 10-day stretch without a game as the student-athletes prepare for, and take their final exams. Fairfield returns to action on December 19 when it hosts St. Francis (NY) at Alumni Hall, and concludes the home portion of its non-conference slate three days later versus Albany.
