BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team had their seven-game winning streak come to end, falling at Canisius College, 52-45, in overtime. The Stags erased an eight point deficit in the final two minutes to force overtime, but the Griffs were able to pull out the win.
 
Sophomore Kristin Schatzlein had 11 points and five rebounds. Senior Katie Cizynski posted 14 points and nine rebounds, just missing her third-straight double-double. She also posted three steals and three assists in all 45 minutes of action.
 
After Fairfield tied the score, 4-4, at the 14:24 mark, both teams went ice cold from the floor until 8:32 when Christelle Akon-Akech put in a floater. The Griffs tied it up on a pair of free throws by Tiahana Mills at 8:10 but it wasn't until 7:41 until Canisius (12-16; 8-11 MAAC) scored from the field. Canisius gained momentum, pushing out to a 14-6 advantage. The Stags stopped the run at 1:40 on a bucket by Casey Grace to make it 21-12. A bucket in the closings seconds sent the Griffs into the locker room with a 23-12 advantage.
 
Fairfield (19-9; 14-5 MAAC) opened the second half with a 7-0 run over the first two minutes. A three-pointer by Schatzlein at 18:06 pulled the Stags within 23-19 and prompted a Canisius timeout. The Griffs countered with a 6-0 run of their own to make it 29-19.
 
The Stags fought back once more, this time using a 6-0 run to cut it to four points, 29-25. After a Canisius basket, back-to-back three-pointers by Schatzlein tied the score at 31-31 with just under 10 minutes left to play. With the score tied at 33-33, the Griffs used an 8-0 run to pull ahead of the Stags with just 2:30 left in the game.
 
Felicia DaCruz stopped the run with a pair of free throws at 1:55 to make it 41-35. Cizynski followed with a jumper in the lane 46 seconds later to make it a four-point game.  After the Stags drew a charge on the defensive end, Alexys Vazquez found Cizynski open for a three in the corner who drained it to pull the Stags within 41-40 with 33 seconds left. Down two points after a Canisius free throw and with time winding down, DaCruz drove down the lane and stuck in a lay-up to send the game to overtime.
 
Brittany Obi-Tabot gave Fairfield the lead 26 seconds into overtime with a lay-up. Jamie Ruttle tied it, 44-44, at 2:37. A three-pointer by Kayla Hoohuli about a minute later returned the lead to the Griffs while Ruttle made it 50-44 with a three-point play with 27.5 seconds left. Canisius was able to hold on for the win.

Obi-Tabot finished with points, including the 600th of her career, and five rebounds. DaCruz finished with six points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Fairfield's 12 first-half points were the fewest since March 3, 2013 when the Stags were held to 13 against Marist. It is the lowest total of any half since December 6, 2012 when Lehigh held Fairfield to 12 second-half points.
 
It was the third overtime game of the season for Fairfield, the most since the 2008-09 campaign when it had four games go to extra frames. The Stags are 1-2 in overtime this season.
 
Fairfield closes out the regular season at Niagara University on March 2. The 2014 MAAC Championships will be held, March 6-10, at the MassMututal Center in Springfield, Mass. Fairfield has clinched the No. 3 seed in the tournament and will make their quarterfinal appearance on Friday, March 7 at 9:30pm.