FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Stags are still learning, and in tonight's loss Fairfield had plenty of lessons.  For the first time this season, the Stags were going up against a team who built themselves around a composed and intelligent brand of basketball which the Stags have made their name on.  Cornell was able to execute better down the stretch and held on for a 58-47 decision against the Stags.

“What we said in the locker room was watching Cornell play tonight is sort of looking at the mirror when we're at our best,” Head Coach Joe Frager said.  “We play a very similar style to the way Cornell played they just did a much better job at it.”

For the first time this season, Fairfield (1-4) had to fight through foul trouble, having three players picking up at least two fouls in the first half.  Cornell (2-2) built a 12 point lead in the first half, but the Stags kept chipping away into the deficit.  Kristin Schatzlein hit a three-pointer with three minutes to go in the half to cut the Big Red lead to eight.

Despite holding Cornell without a field goal for the final six minutes of the half, the Big Red was able to keep their lead by making their free throws. The Big Red hit all eight of their free throw attempts and went into the locker room with a nine point lead despite ending the frame 0-5 from the floor.

With under 15 minutes remaining in the game, the Stags had to come back from their biggest deficit of the game down by 14 points.  Kristine Miller took control of the game, registering two points, two rebounds, an assist, and a steal in a two and a half minute span.  That would cut the deficit to ten.

“We've always thought high on Kristine from the time we started recruiting her, we always believed she was going to be a very good recruit for us,” Frager said.  “But it starts with the type of person Millz is.  She's one of the nicest kids you ever want to meet, very coachable.  She's probably her own worst critic, sometimes her worst enemy kind of resides between her own ears because she doubts herself.  I think she's a fantastic player and it's all about her gaining confidence and try and instill that in her and she has really stepped up and really played very well for us.”

Fairfield would threathen after a three-pointer by Schatzelin, who was guarded tightly all game, cut the deficit to seven with 47 seconds remaining.  But as they did all night, Cornell sunk four straight free throws to take the decision. 

Cornell hit 15 of their first 17 free throws in the game.

Schatzlein led all Stags with 15 points, her fifth straight double digit game which is a career-high.  Two Stags reached double figures in rebounds with Helena Orts recording 10 for the second straight game and Samantha Cooper notching 10 for a career-high.

Fairfield will hit the skies after Thanksgiving as they meet with No. 22 West Virginia on Saturday with tip-off scheduled for 2pm.