HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Ten different players scored for the Stags and three reached double figures, but it was not enough as the Hofstra Pride defeated the Stags 66-53 at the Mack Sports Complex.

For the third straight game, Samantha Cooper got the Stags (0-3) on the board with a three-pointer to make the score 5-3. The Stags would not take the lead until four straight fouls were called against Hofstra (1-1) to slow down the pace of the game, something the Stags wanted.  Kelsey Carey came off the bench and gave the Stags some energy picking up four of the first five rebounds for Fairfield.

The Stags tried to find an answer for the inside play of Hofstra, in particular Ashunae Durant who finished the half without missing a shot going 5-5 from the floor.  Fairfield did hold last year's All-Rookie selection of the CAA, Elo Edeferioka without a point in the opening 20 minutes.  Edeferioka was coming off a career game against Central Connecticut scoring 22 points.

Fairfield outrebounded their opponent in the first half, including picking up eight offensive boards, but Hofstra would be able to secure a 30-25 lead going into the locker room.  The deficit would have been more but two nice plays by Kristen McLaughlin put Fairfield closer.  Making her first collegiate appearance, McLaughlin blocked a Hofstra shot, was able to draw the foul and then sank both free throws with 29.6 seconds remaining.

The Pride got off to a fast start in the second stanza, with Kelly Loftus hitting three 3-point field goals in the first four and a half minutes.  Fairfield who relied on the long range shot in their first two games, was only able to hit two in the first 30 minutes of the game.

Hofstra was able to maintain a double digit advantage for the majority of the game.  Felicia DaCruz was able to play in a season-high 16 minutes and finished with four assists on one turnover.  In two games this season, DaCruz has recorded seven assists and just one turnover. 

Casey Smith led Fairfield in the second frame recording nine of her career-high 14 points.  Smith has now scored in double figures in two of her three games for the Stags, after not playing for over two years.

Carey also was impressive in the second stanza. The sophomore tallied six straight points to cut down the deficit a bit.  Carey tied a career-high with eight points.

Macey Hollenshead also scored her first career points in the final half.

After a game where the Stags only committed 11 turnovers, the Stags turned the ball over 23 times, including 11 in the second half.

The Stags shot 47.7 percent for the game and 60 percent in the second half.

The Stags will open up their home portion of their schedule on Saturday, when they host Butler at 1pm.