RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team overcame a nine-point deficit in the second half to defeat Manhattan College, 58-49, this afternoon at Draddy Gymnasium. The Stags improve to 4-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and 9-5 overall.
 
Senior Katie Cizynski posted her fourth double-double in the last five games, finishing with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Cizynski went 10-for-15 from the floor.
 
Senior Alexys Vazquez posted 12 points, all of which came in the second half after a 4-for-6 effort from three-point range. Senior Brittany Obi-Tabot grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds to go along with six points.
 
Sophomore Kristin Schatzlein added nine points and five assists, tying a career high. Junior Felicia DaCruz had seven points and three assists.
 
The Stags scored the first basket of the game at 18:19 but went cold from the floor for the next five minutes. The Jaspers took advantage, scoring eight unanswered points. Obi-Tabot stopped the run with a put back at 13:30 to shift momentum. After a jumper by Cizynski, back-to-back three-pointers by Schatzlein put the Stags on top, 12-8. A lay-up by Cizynski at 10:42 capped off a 12-3 run by the Stags.
 
A steal and a bucket by Blake Underhill put Manhattan back on top, 15-14, with 7:53 left in the half. The Jaspers pushed their lead to 20-16 on a three-pointer by Monica Roeder at 4:16. Six consecutive points by Cizynski tied it up, 20-20, with 2:42 left. Manhattan closed out the half on a 6-2 run to take a 26-22 lead into the break.
 
Manhattan (3-11; 2-3 MAAC) opened up a 38-29 lead in the second half but Fairfield surged back going on a 24-3 run over the span of nearly 10 minutes. Vazquez drained a three-pointer at 11:36 to pull the Stags within 39-38. A three-pointer by Schatzlein at 9:06 tied the game, 41-41. A jumper by DaCruz 37 seconds later put Fairfield ahead, 43-41. The Stags continued to roll, opening up a 48-41 advantage on a three-pointer by Vazquez at 7:17.
 
Fairfield pushed its lead to 51-41 at the 5:25 on a three by Vazquez while Cizynski hit a jumper at 4:41 to make it 53-41.  Manhattan hit its first basket in nearly seven minutes as Shayna Ericksen stuck in a lay-up at 4:03 but Vazquez hit another three 17 seconds later to make the score, 56-43. The Jaspers tried to rally late but the Stags held them off for the 58-49 victory.
 
Sophomore Lizzy Ball played 12 minutes, tallying four rebounds and three assists, both of which were career bests.
 
Fairfield opens up a four-game home stand on January 11 when Marist College visits Alumni Hall at 6pm. Saturday is Basketball Camper Reunion Night and all campers from Joe Frager's Basketball Camp will receive $1 admission. In addition, youth 12 and under can meet the Stags for autographs and pictures postgame.