FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Samantha Guastella's three-pointer with just over a minute to play proved to be the game-winner as the Stags dropped their first league game of the season, 67-66 to preseason co-favorites Quinnipiac.  Four Stags scored in double figures in the loss, the first time this season that Fairfield has accomplished that feat.  The three-pointer capped a second half that saw the score tied six times and one lead change.

“I think from a spectator standpoint you're not going to get a better game to watch than that one,” Head Coach Joe Frager said.  “Great effort by our kids, in terms of depth of talent there isn't a team in the league better than Quinnipiac.”

Fairfield (2-6, 1-1 MAAC) led for 32 minutes of the game but lost their grasp at the lead when Guastella hit a layup to put Quinnpiac (6-2, 2-0 MAAC) their first lead of the game with three minutes remaining.  The Stags would tie the game one minute later with a layup from Casey Smith, but Guastella hit only her second three-pointer of the game to put the Bobcats up by three.  Samantha Cooper netted a layup with just over one second to go, which cut the deficit to 67-66.  The Bobcats missed bot of their free throws but their was no time left on the clock for Fairfield to create a desperation shot.

For the first time this season, the Stags led at halftime, in a first half that they dominated the current first-place and a very experienced Quinnipiac team.  Fairfield shot 45 percent from the floor, including 64 percent from long range, in building a 14 point lead midway through the first half.

“We came out like we were shot out of a cannon,” Coach Frager said.  “I'm convinced that's what gave us the opportunity to win this game.”

Kristin Schatzlein had a game-high 13 points in the first stanza to go along with a game-high eight boards.  No other player had more than four rebounds in the first half. 

One game after giving up 21 offensive rebounds against Siena, the Stags themselves brought down 10 offensive boards in the opening period and out-rebounded Quinnipiac 25-14.

It was Schatzlein's layup with 8:17 left in he first half that gave Fairfield their largest lead of the game, leading 30-16.  The Bobcats, however, would go on a 20-9 run to end the half, chipping Fairfield's lead to just three.

Fairfield led by six after another layup from Schatzlein with 16:31 to play put the score at 47-41.  Quinnipiac would tie the score on five different occasions, but would not grab the lead until the 3:20 mark.

The story of the game was the shooting from behind the arc.  Quinnipiac jacked up 26 three-point attempts, but connected on just eight.  The Stags who went 7-11 from deep in the first half, was only able to attempt two in the final stanza.

“I think they were much more conscious of guarding us at the line,” Coach Frager said.  “They did a really good job at bodying us up and really finding where the shooters were.”

The Stags held the best offensive team in the conference to 31 percent from behind the arc, and 39 percent shooting from the floor in the second half.

Schatzlein led all scorers with 19 points and nine boards.  Samantha Cooper finished off an impressive MAAC opening weekend with 17 points and nine rebounds.  Casey Smith chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds.  Helena Orts, who was a main figure in the Stags building a first half lead, had a career-high 12 points and four assists.

University of Michigan transfer Val Driscoll led the Bobcats with 14 points.  Guastella was held to eight points one day after setting a career-high with 28 points against Siena.  The sharpshooter only hit two three-pointers but both of them came in big spots.

Fairfield out-rebounded their opponent for the fourth time this season.

The Stags will take a break for final exams before they travel to New Jersey for a meeting with another playoff team from last season in the Seton Hall Pirates.  Tipoff is on December 18, at 7pm.