FAIRFIELD, Conn. – It is expected to be a classic match of offense vs defense. A Fairfield defense who have held five of their last six opponents to 60 points or fewer against an Iona offense who have not been held to under 60 since December 20 (an eight game span). Fairfield will be looking to win their third-straight home game and their sixth win in their last eight outings.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Fairfield is coming off their second MAAC road loss of the season, dropping a 59-33 decision to Monmouth.
The shots just would not fall for Fairfield who shot 20 percent from the floor and 10 percent from behind the arc. Ten different players scored for Fairfield with Kelsey Carey, Casey Smith, and Kristin Schatzlein leading the way with five points apiece. The Stags' defense stepped up again to try and get Fairfield back in the game. Fairfield held the athletic Hawks to just one field goal on 16 chances and 13 minutes in a span that extended into the second half, but the Stags could not take advantage. It was only Fairfield's second loss since January 4, and they are 5-2 during that span. The Stags have allowed 60 points or fewer in six of those games and opponents are shooting 37 percent during that stretch.
BLOCK PARTY: Since not recording a block against Marist, the Stags have notched 25 blocked shots with ten players having two in a game in the six game span. Fairfield has had at least one player tally two blocks in five straight games. This season, Fairfield has had 14 players notch two blocks in a contest. During the six-game span the Stags are averaging 4.2 blocks per game (they averaged two per contest in the 13 games prior).
AN ORDER OF TURNOVERS: Fairfield forced 20 Monmouth turnovers in the road loss, the third highest number this sea- son and the most since January 4. The Stags have now induced 20+ turnovers in three games this season, something Fairfield has not done since 2012 when they forced 20+ miscues in five games.
IT'S ALL ABOUT REBOUNDING: Fairfield grabbed 11 offensive boards against Monmouth, the sixth time in the last seven games they have reached double figures in that category. For the season, the Stags are averaging 10.7 offensive boards. Conversely, the 53 rebounds allowed against the Hawks was the most since March 21, 2010 at Appalachian State.
FAIRFIELD VS IONA: The two teams will be meeting for the 80th time in school history, the most by any Division I opponent against the Stags. Fairfield is 53-26 all-time against the Gaels including a 25-8 clip at home. The series between the two teams have been a series of runs. The Gaels won 11-straight against the Stags between 2005 and 2011. Fairfield would snap that run and pull off a eight game winning streak that spanned three seasons. Iona had the upper hand last season, and are currently on three-game winning streak. The Stags have lost only eight games in the 33 chances at home against the Gaels, but six of those losses have come in the last nine years. Always known as an offensive team, the Stags have held the Gaels under 70 points (their current season average) in every game since 2010. The Gaels swept the regular season series against the Stags as Iona averaged 66 points per contest. The Stags did outshoot the Gaels shooting 43 percent from the floor, but the Gaels made nine more 3-pointers than Fairfield. Kristin Schatzlein averaged 8.0 points per contest while shooting 4-7 from behind the arc. Felicia DaCruz had 11 assists in the two games combined.
SCOUTING THE GAELS: Iona's game plan is simple: outscore their opponent. The Gaels are averaging over 71.5 points per game, with four players scoring more than 9.5 per contest. Iona has won seven of their last eight contests, with their only setback being an overtime loss to Rider. Both of the Gaels MAAC losses this season (Monmouth and Rider) have come in overtime. This will be the Gaels final stop on their three game road swing and are 6-5 as the visiting team. At 71.5 points per game, obviously the shooting numbers are high for the Gaels. The team is shooting 43 percent from the floor, which leads the conference and 35 percent from deep which is third. Iona averaged eight made long range shots per game, the second most in the MAAC. With all that offense, the defensive statistics are not as high. Iona allows foes to score 66.9 points per contest and shoot 42 percent, both are in the bottom three of the league. It would be difficult to find a more dangerous 1-2 punch than Iona's Damika Martinez and Joy Adams, especially at the mid-major level. Martinez, the two-time MAAC Player of the Year, leads the collegiate world in active points with 2,311 (one of the two players in college with over 2,000 points). The other player, Danisha Parks plays in Division III, Elms College. Martinez has 524 more points than the next Division I player. This season, Martinez is second in the country with 24.7 points per game while shooting 40 percent from deep. Joy Adams has also made her name for Iona. Adams comes into the game with 10 double doubles, and grabbing 11.4 rebounds per game, the ninth best number in the nation.
UP NEXT: The Stags will ready for the 'Big Game' against Monmouth on Super Bowl Sunday. Tip off (not kick off) is slated for 2pm.
