LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team opened Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with a 67-61 victory at Rider University this evening. Three Stags scored in double figures, including senior Katie Cizynski who had a double-double.
 
Cizynski registered her second double-double of the year, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Felicia DaCruz recorded 14 points while senior Alexys Vazquez had 13 points.
 
Senior Brittany Obi-Tabot and sophomore Kristin Schatzlein finished with nine points apiece. Obi-Tabot added eight rebounds while Schatzlein added four assists and five rebounds.
 
Rider (4-6; 0-1 MAAC) used a 10-2 run midway through the first half to pull away from the Stags, 18-12. Back-to-back buckets by Cizynski pulled the Stags within 18-16 while freshman Kristine Miller tied it with a lay-in at 8:20. A rainbow three-pointer by Vazquez at 5:32 returned the lead to the Stags, 23-22, while three-pointer by DaCruz 30 seconds later pushed the Fairfield lead to 26-22. Cizynski extended the run to 10-0 with a lay-up followed by a pair of free throws. DaCruz hit both ends of a one-and-one to make the score 32-22 with 2:16 left to play. MyNeshia McKenzie ended Rider's five-minute scoring drought at 1:31 with a lay-up. But a three-pointer by DaCruz with 25 ticks left on the clock sent the Stags into the break with a 35-24 lead.
 
The Broncs opened the second half with a 6-0 run. Vazquez nailed a three-pointer at 18:15 but McKenzie scored four unanswered points to cut the gap to 38-34. After a lay-in by Obi-Tabot, McKenzie posted her 10th point of the half at 16:20 to make the score 40-36. Fairfield later returned its lead to six points, 46-40, on a lay-up by Miller at 12:03. Fairfield countered with a 9-3 run which was capped off with a three-pointer from Schatzlein to make the score 53-43 with just under 10 minutes to play.
 
Rider chipped away at the deficit once more, pulling within 55-48 on a three-pointer by Kornelija Valiuskyte at 7:28 but the Stags answered with a 6-0 run. Rider cut the gap to six points, 63-57, on a bucket by Maritta Gillcrease with 1:30 left in the game. Just 21 seconds later, Mikal Johnson hit a pair of free throws to make it a four-point contest. Fairfield turned the ball over on the ensuing inbound play and Rider took advantage as Johnson stuck in the lay-up to make it 63-61 with just under a minute left. With 36.6 seconds left, Obi-Tabot hit a pair of free throws to make it a two-possession game. With 25 seconds left, Vazquez sank a pair of free throws to push the lead to 67-61 and ice the game for the Stags.
 
McKenzie finished with a game-high 29 points, including 19 in the second half. Gillcrease grabbed 12 points while Johnson finished with 12 points.
 
Fairfield (6-4; 1-0 MAAC) closes out the calendar year by hosting Niagara University on December 31 at 2pm in Alumni Hall. All fans wearing red on New Year's Eve day will receive $2 admission and make sure you don your ugliest sweater because one lucky fan will win a great prize during our Ugly Sweater Day contest!