WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team suffered their first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) loss of the season, falling at Monmouth University, 62-57, in overtime.
 
Two Stags scored in double figures. Sophomore Kristin Schatzlein tied a career-high with 16 points, including four three-pointers. Senior Katie Cizynski scored in double digits for the 11th time this season, finishing with 14 points. Cizynski also grabbed nine rebounds, just missing her third-straight double-double.
 
Senior Alexys Vazquez had nine points while Brittany Obi-Tabot had eight points and nine rebounds.
 
Fairfield (7-5; 2-1 MAAC) held Monmouth scoreless for the first three minutes of the game while opening up a 5-0 lead. After falling behind 7-2, the Hawks countered with a 9-2 run, taking the lead on a jumper by Helena Kurt at 14:37. Vazquez stopped the run at 12:57 with a fade away three-pointer to return the lead to the Stags.
 
Monmouth (2-12; 1-2) answered once more with a 9-3 run to open up a 20-15 lead. Cizynski stopped the run at 6:10 while Schatzlein tied it 26 seconds later with her third three-pointer of the half. Schatzlein then gave the Stags the lead with a jumper at 5:04. With 2:40 remaining, Christelle Akon-Akech sliced her way to the basket to scoop up an offensive board and stick it in to extend the Fairfield lead to 26-22. The Stags took a 30-26 lead into halftime.
 
The Stags opened the second half with a 10-0 run over the first 3:18 while holding the Hawks scoreless until the 16:19 mark. Fairfield, however, went cold from the floor for a nearly six-minute span while Monmouth chipped away at the lead. A basket at 10:47 by Cizynski ended the drought and returned the lead to five points. A put-back by Obi-Tabot made it 44-37 just 46 seconds later. Junior Felicia DaCruz made it a 10-point game, 49-39, with a pair of free throws at 4:52.
 
Monmouth responded with an 8-0 run to close the gap to 49-47 with just under three minutes to play. Cizynski then stopped the run with a lay-up at 2:27. The Hawks came back to tie it, 51-51, with just 58 seconds left on a three-pointer by Kurt. With just 41.8 seconds left, DaCruz sank a pair of free throws to put the Stags back on top. With 22 seconds left, Monmouth's Jamiyah Bethune put in a lay-up to tie the game and force overtime.
 
In overtime, the two teams traded baskets to start things off. A three-pointer by Jasmine Walker put Monmouth ahead, 58-55, at 2:52. Schatzlein pulled the Stags within 58-57 with 59 seconds remaining but Walker made it a three-point game with a lay-up with 31 seconds left. Bethune hit a pair of free throws with 10.1 seconds left to seal the win.
 
It was the first time Fairfield has gone to overtime since February 4, 2011 and only the second time in the last five seasons. It is also the first time Fairfield has lost in overtime since 2008.
 
Fairfield returns home to host Quinnipiac on January 5 at 2pm in Alumni Hall on Dads & Daughters Day. All dads and daughters will receive $1 admission and have the opportunity to enter contests together to win cool prizes! Youth 12 and under can meet the Stags for autographs and pictures postgame.