FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The games between Marist and Fairfield have always been competitive and fun, and the Stags are trying to do something that no MAAC team has done in awhile: beat Marist in two straight road games. Fairfield defeated the Red Foxes in front of a sold out McCann Arena last February an are trying to repeat that feat.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Fairfield is coming off their fifth straight loss, dropping a 66-64 decision to Niagara. Casey Smith once again led the Stags with her second straight 20+ point performance. Smith led all players with 21 points and nine made field goals. Smith also tied her career-high with three assists and two blocks. Kelsey Carey came off the bench and provided a lift scoring 16 points and dishing out a personal-best three assists in 25 minutes. The Stags held the lead for the majority of the final five minutes of the game. Fairfield trailed only once during that span, after a Niagara layup with 16 seconds to go. The Purple Eagles tied the game twice on 3-pointers. The difference of the game was the battle of the boards, which Niagara won 40-23. Niagara outrebounded the Stags 21-9 during the opening period. Kristin Schatzlein had her best overall game of the season finishing with nine points, seven assists, seven re- bounds, and three steals. As a team, the Stags had their best passing effort of the season with 19 assists and a sea- son-low five turnovers.
CAN'T BEAT SMITTY: Stags sophomore Casey Smith is coming off her second MAAC Rookie of the Week award after a 21 point performance against Niagara Smith had a career-high 24 points in the prior game against La Salle and is averaging 22.5 points, three assists, and shooting 60 percent (21-35) in her last two outings.
GET THE PARTY STARTED: In the two games against La Salle and Niagara, Fairfield started off the game on a fast pace Fairfield is shooting a combined 53 percent from the floor (28-53) in the first half during those games. The Stags shot 53 percent from the floor against Niagara, the second highest total in an opening stanza this season. Fairfield also had 13 assists and just three turnovers during the period.
STAYING POSITIVE: After finishing with a positive assist-turnover ratio only twice in the first six games, the Stags have accomplished this feat five times in the last six games. In the last six games Fairfield has 90 assists and 63 turnovers (1.43). In their first six games, the Stags had 91 assists and 126 turnovers (0.7)
TAKE A BREAK: Stags starters have had the bulk of the work for the Stags this season, appearing in 74 percent of the team's minutes.
Schatzlein leads the MAAC with 37.5 minutes per game and has played in all 40 minutes in two straight games. Only one Stags bench player has played in more than 30 minutes in a game (Kelsey Carey).
FAIRFIELD VS. MARIST: Long-time rivals Fairfield and Marist will be meeting for the 46th time in program history. Marist is the only MAAC school with a winning record against the Stags (26-19). Fairfield won the last meeting between the two schools during last year's “Pack the House” night at Marist, one of two sell out crowds for the Red Foxes. Marist has won nine-straight MAAC titles and are 156-11 in the regular season against the MAAC during that span. Felicia DaCruz was the leader for Fairfield against Marist last season. DaCruz had a career-high 11 assists in Fairfield's road win. Schatzlein played in 39.5 minutes per game and averaged 9.5 points in those two games.
SCOUTING THE RED FOXES: Marist comes into the game on a season-long six game winning streak, with three coming against MAAC competition. Marist is averaging 68.5 points during that span. The Red Foxes reached 68 points just once in their first six games. For the second straight game, the Stags will be taking on one of the best defensive teams in the conference. Marist is currently at the top of the MAAC allowing 59.8 points per game. They are also third in 3-point defense, with opponents shooting just 29 percent from behind the arc. The Red Foxes are the definition of a disciplined team, leading the league in free-throw percent- age (.771), fewest fouls (13.3) and fewest turnovers (11.6). Marist is also second in assist-turn- over ratio (1.14), a number that is 28th in the country. The Red Foxes are led by three players who average double figures. Madeline Blais comes in as one of the best shooters in the country, connecting on 43 percent of her shots from long range. The squad's leading scorer is a 45 percent career 3-point shooter and leads the team with 15.6 points per game. Tori Jarosz, the transfer from Vanderbilt is their inside presence with 14.8 points and eight rebounds per contest. Last year's MAAC tournament MVP, Syndey Coffey, is third on the team with 13.5 points per outing.
UP NEXT: The Stags will host the first annual “School Day Game” with over six elementary schools in attendance. There will also be free admission for all fans attending. The Stags will take on Saint Peter's on Friday at 11am.
