Box Score
 
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team opened Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with a 64-54 victory over Loyola University Maryland this evening at Alumni Hall. Senior Katelyn Linney paced the Stags with 13 points while junior Katie Cizynski had 11 points.
 
Linney, who moved into 21st all-time on Fairfield's career scoring charts (1,117 points), went 5-for-11 from the field and grabbed four boards. Cizynski just missed a double-double, finishing with nine rebounds in addition to her 11 points. Junior Christelle Akon-Akech grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds and notched seven points, five of which came from the free throw line.
 
In the first half, the Stags (7-5; 1-0 MAAC) used a 7-2 run to open up a 12-8 lead with just over 12 minutes to play. Loyola's Alyssa Sutherland made it a one-point game with a trifecta but Cizynski responded by converting a free throw after sinking a lay-up while being fouled.
 
Junior Brittany MacFarlane made it 17-11 at 10:13 with a jumper while Akon-Akech extended the lead to eight points with a floater in the lane one minute later. Loyola ended its scoring drought at the nine minute mark but freshman Kristin Schatzlein drained a three to make the score 22-13. Fairfield touted a 27-18 lead at half time, marking the third time this season in which the Stags have held an opponent to less than 20 points in the opening stanza.
 
The Greyhounds (5-7; 0-1 MAAC) began the second half with a 5-2 run to cut the gap to 29-23. Linney stopped the run with a lay-up and then nailed a three-pointer to make the score 34-25 at 15:17. The Stags pulled out to a 45-28 advantage on consecutive threes by Alexys Vazquez, Linney, and Felicia DaCruz to cap off a 16-5 run. Fairfield held off Loyola the rest of the way for the 64-54 victory.
 
DaCruz finished with seven points and three assists while Vazquez posted six points. MacFarlane added six points and seven rebounds, tying a season-high, while Schatzlein recorded eight points and three steals. Junior Brittany Obi-Tabot had six points and four boards.
 
For the Greyhounds, Tiffany Padgett posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while Katie Sheahin had a game-high 17 points. Sutherland finished with nine points.
 
The Stags shot 40.0 percent for the game while the Greyhounds shot 37.9 percent from the floor. Fairfield had its best performance of the season at the free throw line, netting 17 of 19 attempts. The Stags also out-rebounded Loyola 42-32 while steals were even at seven apiece.
 
Fairfield has been victorious in its MAAC opener in nine of the last 10 seasons. Head Coach Joe Frager, who is three victories away from the 300th of his collegiate coaching career, moves to 5-1 all-time in MAAC openers.
 
The Stags take MAAC play on the road on Sunday, January 6 when they travel to Marist College in a rematch of the MAAC Championship final.