FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Stags used a strong third quarter to cut an Iona lead that was as high as 14 to just two points with 3:20 left in the third, but missed their next 13 shots and Iona took advantage by winning the MAAC opener 56-46 at Alumni Hall. The Stags were led by Kristin Schatzlein, who had her best game of the season shooting 3-for-6 from behind the arc.

“It's obvious there's a huge difference in how we came out in the La Salle game and how we came out against Sacred Heart, Hofstra, and tonight,” senior guard Lizzy Ball said. “We have to practice hard and we have to straighten our heads and figure it out together. The best thing we can do is stay together.”

Right from the start, Iona (2-5, 1-0 MAAC) controlled the energy in the building, running out to a 18-7 first quarter lead. With every basket, the Gaels bench got louder and it started to affect the Stags. The Gaels scored 15 points in the first five minutes of the contest, led by Joy Adams. The MAAC Preseason Player of the Year was as good as advertised with 14 points and 14 rebounds in the first half. The Stags would go into the locker room trailing 31-18.

Fairfield (3-2, 0-1 MAAC) started to take the energy right back. The Stags hit five of their first six shots in the third quarter and would eventually make it a one possession game after a Kelsey Carey jumper made it 37-35 with 3:20 left in the quarter.

The Stags also picked up their defensive intensity and it all started by shutting down Adams. The Gaels' best player was held to just two points in the second half, and the Stags also challenged her on the boards for the full stanza as she finished with nine boards in the second half. The biggest moment of their defensive stand happened when the 5-7 Ball picked up a block against Adams as she went up for a layup.

“I feel we had confidence,” Ball saidabout the difference in the quarter. “If we make a mistake and stay together and stay positive then our energy stays up.”

Schatzlein connected on both of her attempts in the third frame, leading the team with eight points.

“I think I'm getting back to the way I was before,” Schatzlein said. “The was definitely a hard injury to come back from. I think I'm getting in the rhythm again.”

However, it was the other Iona players who got involved to weather the storm. Point guard Marina Lizarazu scored a couple of acrobatic underhand layups and Alexis Lewis hit all of her four shots to keep Iona in the lead.

After the Stags cut the deficit to two, they would miss their next 13 shots with the streak coming to an end with 1:36 left in the fourth quarter.

Schatzlein finished with 11 points with a season-high three 3-pointers. Ball connected on a career-high three field goals on and filled the stat sheet with three assists, a personal best three steals, and a block. Cooper led the team with 10 rebounds despite a physical match with Adams all game long.

The MAAC's all-time leading rebounder, Adams finished with a game-high 23 boards and 16 points.

Fairfield also improved from the line, connecting on 11 of their 16 attempts, including three apiece from Casey Smith and Helena Orts.

“[We need to] come out with energy,” Ball said. “And just believe in ourselves.”

The Stags, who dropped their first MAAC opener at home since 2001, will look to get back on track when they ready for a showdown against Marist on Sunday at 2pm.