Box Score KINGSTON, R.I. – Fairfield entered the 2014-15 season with nine first year players on their roster, and that youth held tough in a 83-68 loss to an experienced East Carolina squad. Unlike the Stags, the Pirates return all five starters from a team that went 22-9 last season.
“It was a huge test,” Head Coach Joe Frager said. “Our kids battled all game. They wore us down with their strength, quickness, and length. We obviously need to take better care of the basketball but we had some bright spots. We had four players make their first collegiate start today.”
The nine first year players accounted for 36 points playing their first games for Fairfield. The Stags (0-1) tied the score 47-47 in the second half but then the Pirates (1-0) showed their experience. Transfer DeVaughn Gray hit seven shots from behind the arc, with five three pointers coming in the second half to put the game out of reach.
“ECU is a very talented, veteran team,” Head Coach Joe Frager said. “I'm pleased with today's effort. We shot the ball well and battled back from deficits on three occasions.”
Fairfield also made a comeback close to the final media timeout with the Pirate lead cut to 75-68, but Gray would hit two more three-pointers and finish with a game-high 25 points.
The Stags started off well jumping out to a 15-5 lead against an East Carolina team that was picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference. The Stags shot 5-7 from deep in the opening half with three long range jumpers from Samantha Cooper who returned to the lineup after a season-ending injury last season. Cooper went 3-4 from deep in the first 20 minutes.
Fairfield had their last lead with 3:18 to go in the opening half, until the Pirates closed out the half on a 13-5 run.
Fairfield shot 61 percent from behind the arc against a Pirate team that was ranked 15th in the country in that category last season. Cooper would add a long range shot in the second half to finish with a career-high 12 points. Cooper also added two blocks and two assists in the game.
The Stags hit all 14 of their free throws, the highest free throw percentage the Stags have had in over two seasons. Fairfield also shot 60 percent from the floor led by Kristin Schatzlein who went 6-7, and went 2-3 from deep. The junior finished with a team-high 14 points.
Five Stags finished with a career-high in points. Cooper had 12 in her first game back from an injury, Helena Orts contributed nine points and four rebounds, Casey Smith had eight points in her first game in nearly two seasons, Lizzy Ball had eight points and five assists and Kelsey Carey put in eight points including a personal 4-0 run that cut the Pirate lead to seven in the second half.
The Stags had 20 assists on the game, with seven different Stags dishing out an assist. Ball and Margeaux Dupuy led Fairfield with five apiece. For Dupuy, that was a personal-best.
“I was very pleased with their competiveness,” Frager said. “Cooper, Orts, Smith, Dupuy, and Macey Hollenshead all made positive contributions.”
Fairfield will have less than 24 hours to regroup as they play in the final game of the URI Tip-Off tomorrow at 12:30 PM against Marshall.
