Box Score

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.  – Junior Brittany Obi-Tabot posted a double-double and was crucial down the stretch for the Stags but the Fairfield University women's basketball team was edged by Marist College, 61-56, this afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action at McCann Arena.
 
Obi-Tabot had her first career double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds, both of which were career-highs. Obi-Tabot went 8-for-13 from the floor and 8-for-9 from the charity stripe in 28 minutes of action. Junior Katie Cizynski scored in double-digits for the fourth straight game, finishing with 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Cizynski also grabbed eight boards and blocked two shots.
 
Freshman Kristin Schatzlein and junior Alexys Vazquez added six points apiece.
 
Fairfield (7-6; 1-1 MAAC) led by four points early in the game, but Marist used a 10-2 run over a 3:29 span to overtake the Stags, 15-11, at the 10:27 mark. Senior Brittany MacFarlane pulled the Stags within 15-14 by successfully converting a free throw after being fouled while sticking in a lay-up. The Red Foxes (7-6; 2-0 MAAC) responded with a quick 5-0 run to pull ahead 20-14 at 8:29 but the Stags countered with a 5-0 run of their own pulling within 20-19 on a three-pointer by Schatzlein. Marist answered with back-to-back three-pointers to for the seven-point advantage with 4:23 left. A three-pointer by Schatzlein at 1:37 made the score 28-25 but Marist tacked on seven unanswered points in the final 1:07 to go into halftime with a 35-25 lead.
 
The Stags chipped away at the Red Foxes' lead at the start of the second half, pulling within 39-34 on a jumper by Cizynski at 15:01. Marist used a 7-1 run over the next 1:57 to extend its lead to 47-35. A three-pointer by senior Katelyn Linney with the shot clock winding down, sparked a 7-0 run for the Stags which pulled them within 52-47 with 7:34 left to play.
 
A pair of free throws by Obi-Tabot with just over four minutes to play pulled the Stags within 55-51. With 3:31 left, Obi-Tabot stuck in a Schatzlein pass and was fouled on the play. Obi-Tabot sank the free throw to make it a one-point contest. After a basket by Marist, Obi-Tabot answered with a lay-up to make the score 57-56 with 1:26 left. Casey Dulin scored for the Red Foxes with 41 ticks left on the clock to make it a three-point game. Leanne Ockenden then sank a pair of free throws with 8.2 seconds left to give Marist the 61-56 advantage.
 
Fairfield returns to action on January 10 when it travels to Siena College. Thursday's contest will tip-off at 11:30am as it is the Third Annual BlueShield of Northeastern New York Kid's Day Game. The game will be televised throughout the state of New York on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.