FAIRFIELD, Conn. – They did it once now the Stags will try to defeat another first-place team on the road when Fairfield travels to in-state rival and current MAAC leader Quinnipiac for a Thursday contest that is streamed on ESPN3. It will be the first of four games on ESPN3 that will feature Fairfield this season. ESPN personality Jon Brickley and former Fairfield men's basketball Head Coach Mitch Buonaguro will have the call starting at 5pm.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Fairfield is coming off their third-straight win as they defeated the Rider Broncs on the road 59-47. It was also the third-straight game that the Stags have out-rebounded their opponent and have done so at a 10.3 clip in the last three games. Kristin Schatzlein got back on track scoring 16 points, the most in a game since the Iowa State game on Dec 21. Five Stags recorded at least seven points with Margeaux Dupuy providing a spark off the bench and igniting a 12-0 run which was the difference of the game. The game featured eight ties and nine lead changes with the Stags getting the lead for good at the 15:40 mark. Fairfield did not trail by more than three points in the game, their largest deficit during their winning streak.

CAN'T BEAT SMITTY: Stags sophomore Casey Smith is coming off her third MAAC Rookie of the Week award after averaging 10 points and 5.3 rebounds in Fairfield's 3-0 week. Smith set a career-high with five assists twice during the week.
Smith is on pace to score 365 points, which would be second by a Stags rookie.

THAT'S HOW TO REBOUND: Since grabbing a season-low 23 rebounds against Niagara, the Stags have regained their touch and have out-rebounded their opponent in three straight contests. Coincidently, Fairfield has tallied exactly 39 rebounds in all three contests. Fairfield has 31 total rebounds more than their opponents (nine offensive and 22 defensive).

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?: The Stags had their best defensive showing in the back-to-back games against Rider and Saint Peter's. It is the first time they have held an opponent to fewer than 50 points in back-to-back games since Nov 27- Dec. 11, 2012 (three straight). Since the beginning of last season, the Stags have allowed fewer than 50 points seven times, and are 7-0 in those games. The two teams combined to shoot .317 from the floor (32-for-101).

FAIRFIELD VS. QUINNIPIAC: The two teams will be meeting for the 10th time in school history and the second time this season. The Stags are 6-3 all-time against the Bobcats and 0-1 this year. Quinnipiac took a one-point decision in their first meeting when Samantha Guastella nailed a 3-point field goal with just over one minute to play that proved to be the game winner. The Stags led by as many as 14 in the first half at the 8:17 mark, and would bring a lead into halftime for the first time this year. It was also the first time this season that four Stags scored in double figures led by Schatzlein's 19 points. Kristin Schatzlein is the team's leading scorer averaging 14.7 points against the Bobcats in her career with Felicia DaCruz chipping in 9.3 and 4.3 assists per contest.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS: Quinnipiac comes into the contest in first place in the MAAC for the first time in program history. The Bobcats have won four-straight and 11 of their last 12 games with their only loss during that span coming to Florida Gulf Coast. The squad is currently ranked ninth in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll, the only MAAC team ranked in the Top-25.The Bobcats come in as the best offensive team in the conference, averaging 74.6 points per game, nearly five more points than any other team in the MAAC. That number is the 40th best in the country. The squad has scored at least 80 points in three of their last four games. The Bobcats are a gunning team already attempting 434 3-pointers a game (25.5 per game). Quinnipiac has made 8.5 outside shots per contest, the 12th highest number in the nation. The Bobcats also have a 1.3 assist-turnover ratio, the 12th best in the country. Quinnipiac also lead the conference in blocks, scoring defense, assists, steals, and turnover margin. Three players for the Bobcats are averaging double figures led by their guard in Jasmine Martin at 13.1 points per contest and shooting 38 percent from outside during MAAC competition. Samantha Guastella is their biggest long range threat with nearly half of her outside shots coming in MAAC games, where she is shooting 42 percent. Inside, the Bobcats have Val Driscoll who scores 11.5 points and grabs 7.1 boards per outing. The major reason for their success is their experience. All five starters are at least in their senior year with Driscoll, a transfer from Michigan being in her fifth collegiate season.

UP NEXT: Fairfield will close out their three-game road trip when they travel to Saint Peter's on Tuesday at 7pm.