POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team knocked off first-place Marist College, 72-68, in front of a sellout crowd at McCann Arena. Four Stags scored in double figures, including senior Katie Cizynski who became the 27th Stag in program history to record 1,000 career points.
 
Cizynski finished with 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. Cizynski now has 1,004 career points. Junior Felicia DaCruz had her first career double-double, finishing with 14 points and a career-high 11 assists, while committing just two turnovers. Senior Alexys Vazquez added 16 points, including four three-pointers to bring her career total to 210 and surpass Holli Tapley for second all-time in three-pointers made at Fairfield. Senior Brittany Obi-Tabot had 10 points and six rebounds.
 
The win over Marist was Fairfield's first since February 9, 2010. It was the Stags' first win over the Red Foxes on their home court since January 23, 2009.
 
Fairfield (15-8; 10-4 MAAC) opened up a 17-13 lead on Marist on a lay-in by DaCruz at 9:43 in the first half. A bucket by Tori Jarosz made it a one possession game but sophomore Kristin Schatzlein answered with a steal and a running jumper to make it 19-15 with 7:58 left in the half. Senior Casey Grace followed with a lay-up at 7:06 to make it a six-point game and prompt a Marist timeout.
 
Out of the timeout, Leanne Ockenden hit a three-pointer and a pair of free throws, in a 30-second span, to pull the Red Foxes within 23-20. Three-straight free throws by Casey Dulin tied the game at 23-23 at the 5:13 mark. Just a minute later, a fast break lay-up by Sydney Coffey put Marist ahead, 25-23. Cizynski ended the Stags' nearly three-minute scoring drought at 2:59 with a lay-up to make the score 27-25 in favor of Marist. After a basket by the Red Foxes, Cizynski hit a jumper with 28 ticks on the clock to pull the Stags within 29-27 as they headed into halftime.
 
Marist (18-6; 12-2 MAAC) quickly opened up a 35-27 lead to start the second half. The Stags countered with an 8-0 run which was capped off by Cizynski who tied the game at 15:38. Cizynski put the Stags ahead, 44-43, but the Red Foxes countered with a 4-0 run. Cizynski stopped the run with a lay-up at 8:35, which was also her 1,000th career point, to make the score 47-46.
 
Trailing by five points with just under six minutes remaining, a lay-up by Cizynski and a jumper by DaCruz pulled the Stags within 53-52. After trading baskets, DaCruz drained a three-pointer to put the Stags ahead, 57-55, at the 4:11 mark. Coffey tied it with a pair of free throws at 3:53 but Vazquez answered with back-to-back threes to extend the Stags' lead to 63-57. At 1:19, Marist's Emma O'Connor hit a three-pointer of her own to pull the Red Foxes within 63-60. A three-pointer by Vazquez with 54 seconds left extended the Stags' lead to 66-60. A free throw by Dulin with 43.4 seconds left made it a five-point game.
 
DaCruz hit a pair of free throws to push the lead to 68-61 with 42 seconds left. After Vazquez made a pair of free throws to make the score 70-62, Dulin hit a three-pointer with 22.4 seconds left to pull the Red Foxes within five points. Marist had their chances but Schatzlein iced it with a pair of free throws with 3.8 seconds left to send the Stags off with the win.

Schatzlein had six points, five boards, and four assists while Grace added four points and four rebounds in a career-high 22 minutes off the bench for the Stags. For Red Foxes scored in double figures, including O'Connor who had a team-high 17 points.

Fairfield shot 50.9 percent (28-for-55) from the floor, including a 45.5 percent clip from long range, while Marist shot 43.4 percent (23-for-53) from the field. The Stags out-rebounded the Red Foxes, 34-26.
 
The Stags return home for their final three home games of the season beginning next week. Fairfield hosts Rider on 2-for-1 Thursday, February 13 at Webster Bank Arena in a game that will air live on ESPN3 at 6pm. The Stags return to the Arena two days later to host Saint Peter's at 1:30pm on Play4Kay day, where fans can join the Stags in the fight against breast cancer. Use the promo code 'PINK' at the WBA Box Office window to receive a $5 ticket and all proceeds will go to St. Vincent's Hospital. Fairfield's final home game is February 21 when Manhattan visits Alumni Hall on Senior Night.