FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Taylor McKay muscled her way in the paint to convert a layup with 16 seconds to play, and the Stags' final shot hit off the back iron as Fairfield dropped a 66-64 decision to the Niagara Purple Eagles on Sunday. The setback is the second MAAC loss for the Stags, dropping both games by a combined three points.

“I think a lot of the mistakes that we made are attributed to ourselves,” Casey Smith, who had 21 points in the loss said.  “I think we really have to take accountability for that, myself included.”

The McKay layup capped a five-minute run in which Fairfield held the lead the entire way, excluding three tying buckets by Niagara (7-6, 3-1 MAAC).

Smith hit a free throw to put Fairfield (2-10, 1-2 MAAC) in front at 54-53 with 4:45 left to play.  Smith would hit another jumper inside the pain to push the Stags advantage to three. The jumper were the final points of the day for Smith, who became the first Stag this season with back-to-back 20+ point outings.

Kelsey Carey, who was the second leading scorer today, nabbed two of the seven offensive boards for Fairfield in one possession.  The sophomore was finally able to push the ball through the basket to keep the lead at three at 58-55 with 3:14 left to play.

Carey would again stretch the advantage to three with her much improved jump shot to make the score 64-61 at the 1:48 mark. 

Kaylee Stroempele would tie the game with a 3-point field goal with just over one minute to play for the visiting Purple Eagles. It was the second time that Niagara tied the game with a three in the final 2:31 of the game.

McKay would then finish from the middle of the lane to give Niagara their first lead in the final five minutes of the game.

The tightly contested game, which featured 11 ties, and 10 lead changes, started right in the first half, with both teams taking 35 points into the locker room.

The Stags dished out 13 assists in that opening half compared to just three miscues.  Smith led the way for the Stags with Carey contributing 10 inside the paint. 

Carey, who had her second best game of the season, showed another aspect of her game throughout the contest, connecting on short jumpers inside the lane.  Carey went 5-6 from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.

The Stags were able to keep the game tied despite struggling on the boards.  The Stags were outrebounded 21-9 in the first half, and 40-23 in the game.  Fairfield was able to grab just 16 defensive boards and seven offensive rebounds in the contest.

“I think in the first half the 21 boards compared to our nine, contributed to how well they did offensively,” Smith said.  “I think the second half they did the same thing, we just got outrebounded again.”

In the second half, the Stags trailed by as many as eight points after a jumper by the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year, Victoria Rampado hit a jumper to put the score at 49-41.  The eight points was the largest lead for either side on the day.

The Stags would then go on a 13-4 run featuring points from three different players.  Felicia DaCruz started the run with a layup, the first of her two field goals.

In the loss, the Stags had their best passing effort of the season, with 19 assists and a season-low five turnovers.  It is the fifth time in the last six outings in which the Stags finished with a positive assist-turnover ratio.

Kristin Schatzlein had seven of those assists, breaking her season high.  Schatzlein filled the box score with nine points, seven assists, seven rebounds, and three steals.

Lizzy Ball had a very productive game with three assists and no turnovers.  In her last 10 games, Ball has 17 assists and just four miscues.

Smith led all players with 21 points, and two blocks.  Carey would finish with 16 points and a career-high three assists without committing a turnover.

“I think it's a quick bounce back, we're in season now and MAAC play,” Smith said.  “We have Marist coming up on Tuesday so we just have to get back really quick, get in the gym tomorrow, get what we need to get done and just focus.”

Fairfield will travel to nine-time MAAC Champions Marist for a game at the McCann Arena on Tuesday at 7pm.