FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Stags will have a true test at Alumni Hall on Sunday. Fairfield will welcome MAAC Preseason Co-Favorites in Quinnipiac on Sunday at 2pm in their final home game of the 2014 calendar year. The Stags, who will look for their 250th win at Alumni Hall again, will also be searching to go 2-0 in the MAAC for the fifth time in the last six season.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Fairfield is coming off their first MAAC victory of the season, defeating Siena 60-55 on the road. It is the seventh straight season that the Stags have won their MAAC opener. The Stags also defeated Siena for the ninth time in their last 10 games, and their fourth straight against the Saints on the road. The Stags also held three-time MAAC Rookie of the Week Margot Hetzke to seven points in the game. Hetzke had come into the game ranked second in the nation among freshmen, scoring 18.5 points per game. Fairfield allowed 21 offensive rebounds, their most since Jan. 18, 2014 against Iona. Three Stags reached double figures in the contest, with Kelsey Carey leading the way with a career-high 22 points. Casey Smith tallied 14 while Samantha Cooper chipped in 12.
KELSEY CAREY-S THE STAGS: Kelsey Carey had the game of her life against Siena. Carey nearly doubled her yearly output with 22 points against Siena in a career-high 32 minutes. Carey had 14 points at halftime which was already a personal-best. Carey set career highs in points (22), rebounds (eight), minutes (32), and field goals made (11). Carey also had a team-best six offensive boards against the Saints. The six offensive rebounds was the most since Katie Cizynski had seven against Bryant. The 22 points off the bench is the most by a Fairfield bench player since current assistant coach Sabra Wrice had a program record 36 against Siena.
NEED TO HIT A THREE: The Stags came into the game against Siena in the top-50 in the country in three-point field goals per game. However, the Stags would only hit one in the game going 1-8. The one three-pointer was the fewest since the Stags went 1-7 against Quinnipiac on Jan. 26, 2014 against Quinnipiac. Fairfield has now hit a three in exactly 300 straight games. The last time Fairfield has not hit a three-point field goal was December 2, 2004 against Saint Peter's.
It marked the fifth three-pointer the Stags have scored in the final minute of a game this season. It was also the first time that Samantha Cooper had attempted a shot in the final minute this season.
FAIRFIELD VS QUINNIPIAC: This will be the ninth meeting between the two MAAC schools, who stand just 40 minutes from each other, with the Stags holding a 6-2 advantage. Fairfield won both of the meetings against the Bobcats since Quinnipiac joined the league last season. Fairfield had a narrow victory at home, 72-71. The Stags have not lost a game to the Bobcats at home since 1978 (4-1 all-time). Quinnipiac's other win in the series came in 2011, with the Hamden, Conn. team picking up a 64-55 victory. Felicia DaCruz is averaging 14 points per game and four assists in the series. DaCruz is also shooting 13-17 from the line in the two games. Kristin Schatzlein is recording 12.5 points against Quinnipiac, but just 2-7 from deep.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS: Quinnipiac is also coming off their first MAAC win of the season against Siena. The Bobcats have arguably the biggest win of the MAAC season, upsetting the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide dropped to 5-3 on the year as the Bobcats held the SEC Player of the Week Ashley Williams to just 12 points in the game, eight shy of her season average. The Bobcats are led by their most experienced players in seniors Jasmine Martin, Samantha Guastella and graduate student Val Driscoll. All those players average double figures with Martin leading the way at 14.4 points per contest. Guestella is their long range threat, connecting on a team-high 17 three-pointers this season, and had six in the win against Siena for a career-high 28 points. The Bobcats come into the game as the best offensive team in the conference averaging 74.7 points per game. Val Driscoll is a transfer from the University of Michigan and played in all 32 games for the Wolverines. Quinnipiac coach Tricia Fabbri will try and become just the fifth Quinnipiac coach with 300 career wins, against her Alma Mater in Fairfield. Fabbri is a member of the Fairfield University Hall of Fame with 1,622 career points and 1,037 career rebounds.
UP NEXT: The Stags will take an 11-day break for finals before travelling to Seton Hall on Thursday, December 18 at 7pm. Fairfield will meet former Iona Head Coach Tony Bozzella, who left to coach his Alma Mater.
