Box Score NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – What was the one thing the Stags needed to improve on after their heartbreaking loss to Marist just two days ago? They needed to find a composure. And after losing another double digit lead, and in a loud Hynes Athletic Center, Fairfield was able to find that poise they have been searching for all season long and defeat the Iona Gaels 74-62 to earn the number three seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament.
“I'm extremely pleased with this win,” Head Coach Joe Frager said. “Iona is as talented as a team that you're going to find in this conference, to be able to beat them on their floor is huge. The thing I was happy about was that they made a run in the second half and we struggled with that against Marist, we called a timeout and said, 'we're not going to let that happen again.'”
The Stags (13-15, 12-7 MAAC) earned a 12-point halftime lead but saw that lead go all the way down when all-time MAAC scoring leader Damika Martinez scored 15 of the Gael's (14-14, 11-8 MAAC) 18 points for five minutes, including a 10-point scoring run in just one minute. That span was an offensive clinic put on by both teams, as the two squads combined to hit eight-straight shots in the middle of the second frame.
But with all of that, the Stags dug down and found their composure.
Felicia DaCruz beat the shot clock with a 3-pointer to make the game a two possession affair with just over four minutes to go. It was more than the shots, it was the little things that you don't see in the box score. Samantha Cooper ran down a loose ball as the Stags were able to take more time off the clock at a crucial time, it also led to a Casey Smith layup.
As a team, the Stags found a way to get to the line. The Gaels had three players foul out in the final stanza, and Fairfield converted on those opportunities (13-18).
“It shows that it's in them,” Coach Frager said. “Hopefully now they can use that as a catalyst as a spark because nothing is easy. It's not going to be easy on Sunday, and after that. They are going to be faced with adversity again and they need to be able to reach down and say, 'we've been in this situation before and we've responded.'”
Lizzy Ball was the unsung hero of the contest with her defense and even scoring five points all in five minutes.
The Stags came out of the gate like a thoroughbred, scoring their most points in an opening half since December 7 against Quinnipiac. The first 20 minutes was run as fast any basketball fan would like (with only one whistle in the first eight minutes). At one point in the half, the Stags hit nine of 11 shots with Kristin Schatzlein continuing with the hot streak she found against Marist. Schatzlein connected on five of her first seven and finished the stanza with 12 points. The junior also recorded an assist in the period, the 200th of her career.
Casey Smith started the contest with eerily similar numbers to her first match against Iona. The Rookie of the Year candidate finished the stanza with 10 points, six assists, and four rebounds all without committing a turnover.
Fairfield got their largest lead of the half when Schatzlein connected on her second 3-pointer on just three attempts. Samantha Cooper would convert a layup with three seconds remaining to give the Stags a 38-26 lead at halftime.
On the defensive side, Fairfield held the all-time scoring leader in MAAC history Damika Martinez to just six first half points and one field goal on her first six attempts.
The Stags were balanced offensively with four players scoring in double figures, led by Casey Smith's 19 points and career-high nine assists without a turnover. Kristine Miller tied a career-high with 14 points (6-7 FG), Schatzlein had 14, with Cooper chipping in 10 points and a game-high 12 boards.
Martinez had 28 points, 22 coming in the second frame.
The Stags have now clinched the number three seed in the tournament for the third-straight season and the 11th time in their history. Fairfield will play Friday at 9:30pm with the opponent to be determined.
Fairfield closes out the regular season travelling to Manhattan on Satruday at 2pm.
