BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Three Stags scored in double figures to help power the Fairfield University women's basketball team to a 56-50 come-from-behind victory over Canisius College this evening at the Webster Bank Arena. With the win, the Stags improved to 15-9 overall and to 9-4 in the MAAC.
Junior
Christelle Akon-Akech netted career-high 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting while grabbing six boards. Junior
Brittany Obi-Tabot posted 14 points and seven rebounds while junior
Katie Cizynski had 13 points and four rebounds. Cizynski has scored in double figures in 14 of her last 15 games.
Canisius (9-15; 6-7 MAAC) opened the game with a 6-0 run while
Katelyn Linney gave the Stags their first bucket of the game at 16:37 with a three-pointer from the top of the arc. The Griffs continued to roll, extending their lead to 10-3. The Stags stormed back, pulling within 10-7 on a steal and a lay-up by Akon-Akech at 13:26. Fairfield erased a seven-point deficit, pulling within 23-21 on a three-pointer by
Kristin Schatzlein. After trading baskets,
Felicia DaCruz picked off a pass on the defensive end which resulted in a game-tying lay-up from Obi-Tabot at 4:11. The two teams went basket-for-basket the rest of the way, heading into halftime tied 31-31.
Canisius began the second half on a 10-2 run. The Stags cut in to the deficit, 43-39, coming away with a steal on the defensive end and turning it into a fast break lay-up for Obi-Tabot at 11:06. Cizynski pulled the Stags within two points, 45-43, at 7:23 with a jumper.
Fairfield eventually took the 48-47 lead at 3:36 on a jumper from Cizynski while Akon-Akech extended it to 51-47 with a lay-up. A lay-up by Obi-Tabot made the score 53-48 and capped off a 9-1 run by the Stags at 1:15. The Griffs Tiahana Mills hit a jumper with 36 ticks on the clock to make it a 53-50 advantage but the Stags were able to fend them off for the 56-50 win.
Linney and Schatzlein each finished with five points.
It is the first time this season in which Fairfield has trailed in the final five minutes and have come back to win. Entering the game, the Stags were 0-9 when trailing at the five-minute mark in the second half.
Fairfield returns to action on February 16 to host Saint Peter's University at 2pm in Alumni Hall.
