Women's Basketball Trounces Maine to Advance to WBI Semifinals

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Senior Katie Cizynski posted her 13th double-double of the season to power the sixth-seeded Fairfield University women's basketball team to a 63-50 victory over seventh-seeded University of Maine this afternoon in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) quarterfinals. The Stags will face the winner of Monday's No. 1 Eastern Michigan/No. 4 UIC contest in the semifinals which will be held March 26 or March 27.

Cizynski tied a career-high with 26 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, tied a career-high with five assists, and blocked two shots. Senior Alexys Vazquez finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Fairfield (22-10) stormed out of the gate, taking a 19-6 lead in the first nine minutes of play. The Stags held Maine scoreless for three minutes, a drought which was ended on a free throw by Sigi Koizar at the 10:47 mark. The Black Bears would not score again until 6:41 ending a span of nearly seven minutes without a field goal. Fairfield cruised into halftime with a 37-13 lead behind 75 percent (15-for-20) shooting from the field. It was the fewest first half points for an opponent since February 17, 2012 when Niagara scored just 13.

Maine (17-15) turned the tables on Fairfield in the second half as the Black Bears outscored the Stags, 20-9, in the first 11 minutes of play. After Maine cut the deficit to 46-35, Fairfield answered with a quick 7-2 run to push its lead back to 16 points. The Black Bears would pull within 11 points twice in the final 1:16 of play but it was not enough.

Nine of the 10 Stags that checked into the lineup scored. Senior Brittany Obi-Tabot tallied eight points and four rebounds while sophomore Kristin Schatzlein added seven points.

Fairfield shot 52.5 percent (21-for-40) from the field while Maine shot just 33.9 percent (20-for-59). The Stags also went 18-for-21 from the free throw line and out-rebounded the Black Bears, 33-27.

It is the first time since 2012 in which a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) has advanced to the WBI semifinals. That season Manhattan College appeared in the semifinals for the second consecutive season.

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