Katie Cizynski scored a career-high 19 points to pace the Fairfield University women's basketball team to its fourth consecutive win, 51-47, over the University of Vermont Tuesday night at Alumni Hall.  The victory improves the Stags to 4-1 on the year, while the Catamounts fall to 2-5.

The Stags opened the second-half with a 7-0 run to extend a one-point lead at the intermission to 31-23 2:27 into the second period.  Fairfield would extend that lead to double-digits on a Katelyn Linney three-pointer with 7:09 to play in the game.  The Catamounts would mount a rally from that point, outscoring Fairfield 10-2 over the next 3:19 to close within two, 47-45.

Neither team found the basket on their next possessions. Cizynski converted a lay-up with 2:54 to play in the game, giving Fairfield a four-point edge, 49-45.  It would be the Stags final field goal of the contest.  The Catamounts answered with 62 ticks left on the clock, as Kaylea Britton knocked down a jumper.  Lauren Buschmann came away with a steal for Vermont on the Stags next possession, but a three-point attempt from Britton with 18 seconds remaining rimmed out. Linney was fouled on the ensuing Fairfield possession, and sank a pair of free throws with 13 seconds to play to push the margin to four, 51-47. 

Cizynski was the only Fairfield player to reach double-figures, shooting 9-16 from the field, with a three-pointer in 35 minutes of action.  She also pulled down a team-best six rebounds and handed out two assists on the night.  Rookie Kristin Schatzlein played 14 minutes off of the bench and finished 4-6 from the field for a career-best nine points, as well as two assists.  Linney scored eight for the Stags, and had four boards.

Felicia DaCruz handed out a career-high equaling six assists for Fairfield, as well as hitting the lone three-pointer she attempted for three points.  Brittany MacFarlane also tied a career-high in assists, with five, against one turnover, in 25 minutes on the night.

Vermont was paced by the 17-point, five-rebound effort of Buschmann, who was 8-13 from the field.  Britton was also in double figures, scoring a dozen on a 6-11 effort from the field.  The Catamounts finished with a 34-32 edge in rebounds, with a 15-10 edge on the offensive glass.

Fairfield handed out 19 assists on 21 made field goals on the day, with seven players recording at least one assist on the night.  The Stags blocked five shots, all in the first-half, with Brittany Obi-Tabot swatting away three.  Vermont blocked six shots in the first-half of the game.

The Stags return to action on Saturday as they host St. Francis Brooklyn at 2 p.m. in Alumni Hall.