Box Score


FAIRFIELD, Conn.  – Despite 16 points and seven boards from junior Katie Cizynski, the Fairfield University women's basketball team fell to La Salle University, 60-50, this afternoon at Alumni Hall. It was the Stags third-straight loss of the year and just their first home loss of the season.
 
Cizynski went 8-for-12 from the field and added a block and an assist in 35 minutes of action. Junior Christelle Akon-Akech came off the bench to deliver eight points and three steals, both season highs, while dishing out a career-best five assists. Junior Brittany Obi-Tabot added eight points and four rebounds.
 
Senior Katelyn Linney chipped in with six points and three assists while classmate Brittany MacFarlane had five points, five rebounds, and four assists.
 
After the Stags (5-4) scored the first basket of the game at 17:50, the Explorers (3-9) went on a 12-0 run over the next five minutes. Linney stopped the run with a pair of free throws, which also sparked a 6-0 surge for Fairfield. With 8:15 left to play in the half, Linney cut the gap to 14-13 with a three-pointer. After exchanging buckets, freshman Kristin Schatzlein put the Stags ahead, 17-16, with a lay-in at 6:55. La Salle regained the lead at 6:26 on a three-pointer by Ebonee Jones and had a 28-23 advantage at the break.
 
Fairfield came out strong in the second half, opening with a 4-0 run but La Salle countered with a 4-0 run of its own. The Stags then turned up the defensive pressure and took advantage of opportunities on the offensive end. At 13:52, Akon-Akech cut the deficit to 36-34 after picking off a pass and taking it in for the easy lay-up. Just 22 seconds later, MacFarlane stole the ball near midcourt and fed a breaking Akon-Akech for the game-tying lay-up. After a La Salle technical foul, Linney hit a free throw to give the Stags the 37-36 lead at 13:02.
 
Midway through the final stanza, the Explorers used a 7-0 run to overtake the Stags, 46-42, at 8:42. La Salle pushed their lead to as much as eight points, 58-50, in the final five minutes. Fairfield could not recover, ultimately falling 60-50.
 
After a break for Christmas, the Stags return to action December 28-29 when they travel to Philadelphia, Pa. for the Saint Joseph's Hawks Classic. Fairfield will face Saint Joe's on December 28 at 2pm and will take on either Wagner or UMBC the following day.