Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team defeated the University of Rhode Island, 66-53, this afternoon at the Brown Bear Classic. Seniors Desiree Pina and Taryn Johnson each finished with 15 points apiece to help the Stags improve to 4-3 this season.
 
Pina added six assists and two rebounds while Johnson added five boards and three blocks. Pina was named to the All-Tournament Team after averaging 14.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 rebounds over two games.

The Stags held the Rams (1-8) scoreless for nearly four minutes in the first half as Fairfield worked to extend its lead to 16-12. After a URI bucket and a made free throw, junior Katelyn Linney hit back-to-back three-pointers to give the Stags a 22-15 advantage with just over four minutes remaining in the half. Fairfield continued to roll ending the half on a 9-0 run to take a 33-21 lead into halftime.
 
In the second half, Pina made it a 15-point game, 53-38, with a lay-up at 7:33. The Rams chipped away at the lead over the next two minutes, pulling within eight points, 53-45, on basket by Sydney Lewis.

The Stags worked their lead back up to 11 points, 60-49, with 3:38 left to play after a lay-in by Pina. The Rams cut it to single digits 30 seconds later on a drive by Teneka Whittaker which made the score 60-51. Emilie Cloutier followed with a lay-up at 1:25 to pull URI within 60-53 but Johnson countered with a pair of free throws with 59.7 seconds remaining. Pina went 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the last 48.2 seconds to put the game out of reach.
 
Linney finished with 12 points. Junior Brittany MacFarlane tallied eight points and seven rebounds while sophomores Alexys Vazquez and Katie Cizynski added six points apiece.
 
Fairfield returns home for the first time in nearly a month when they host Columbia University on December 8 at 7pm in Alumni Hall.