Box Score

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.  – The Fairfield University women's basketball team fell at Rider University, 55-44, this evening in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) road action. Junior Katie Cizynski had her fifth double-double of the year with 13 rebounds and 10 points while sophomore Felicia DaCruz had a career-high 10 points.
 
Senior Brittany MacFarlane tallied six points and seven rebounds while freshman Kristin Schatzlein added five points. Senior Katelyn Linney finished with six points, including the 1,200th of her career, while Alexys Vazquez had seven points.
 
Rider (11-11; 6-5 MAAC) started the game with a 9-2 run. The Stags would cut it to 11-7 with on a three-pointer by Linney at 11:04 and to 11-9 four minutes later. Schatzlein tied the game, 11-11, with a lay-up at 6:23. Rider broke a nearly six-minute scoring drought at 5:35 with a free throw to regain the lead and pushed its advantage to three points on a fast break lay-in by MyNeshia McKenzie.
 
Linney tied it at 14-14 with a three-pointer at 3:44 while Schatzlein returned the lead to Fairfield with a lay-up at 3:17. Schatzlein capped off the Stags' 10-0 run with a free throw with 29.6 seconds left. Rider scored late but Fairfield took a 21-16 lead into halftime, marking the sixth time this season in which an opponent has been held to under 20 points in the opening stanza. Rider's 16 points were the fewest by an opponent in the first half this year.
 
The Broncs opened the second half on a 7-2 run, tying the game 23-23 after McKenzie completed a three-point play at 16:09. Fairfield was able to regain the lead and make it a six-point game, 33-27, on a lay-up by MacFarlane at 11:45. The Broncs came back once again, pulling within 37-36 on a jumper by McKenzie at 7:34. With 6:15 remaining Sironda Chambers nailed a three-pointer to give Rider the 41-39 lead and spark a 12-0 run for the Broncs. The Stags could not recover, falling 55-44.
 
McKenzie finished with 18 points, leading Rider to its first-ever regular season sweep of Fairfield. Chambers added 16 points while Caitlin Bopp had 10 points and seven boards.
 
Fairfield (13-9; 7-4 MAAC) returns to action on Sunday, February 10 when it travels to Manhattan College at 2pm. The Stags head home on February 14 when they Pack The House In Pink against Canisius College at Webster Bank Area at 6pm live on ESPN3. The Pack The House In Pink event is Fairfield's annual breast cancer awareness game and fans will receive $3 admission when using the promo code 'Pink' at www.Ticketmaster.com or at the WBA box office window. Fans can also show their support by wearing pink to the event.