BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Fairfield defense was able to clamp down on the reigning regular season champions of the Northeast Conference but the offense was not able to put the Stags over the hump as the Fairfield University women's basketball team fell to crosstown rivals Sacred Heart 56-44 to begin the 2016-17 campaign.
After allowing 18 points through the first 10 minutes, the defense of the Stags settled down against a team that scored 65 points per game last season. Fairfield limited the Pioneers to a .350 shooting percentage in the second quarter, keeping the team in striking distance. Fairfield was able to cut the deficit to just three after a pair of Kendra Landy free throws, but four-straight Sacred Heart points, including a halftime buzzer beater that rolled along the rim, gave the Pioneers a 30-23 lead into halftime.
The Stags were able to close that deficit by a single point after ending the third quarter on an 11-4 run. A three-pointer by Shelby Hickey gave the Pioneers a 13-point lead with 7:39 remaining, but like they did all game long the defense kept the Stags breathing. Fairfield would surrender just one more field goal in the quarter while connecting on a pair of long-range shots. Macey Hollenshead connected on a three-pointer with 4:31 left in the period and Sam Kramer tallied her first collegiate points on another three-pointer to cut the deficit to seven.
The Stags were not able to connect on those shots in the fourth, missing their first five shots before a Kelsey Carey basket made the contest single digits. The experience of the Pioneers was on display as Sacred Heart was able to keep their lead despite shooting 35 percent in the second half.
Carey, Hollenshead and Casey Smith were the three Stags to reach double figures with Carey and Smith recording 11 points and Hollenshead chipping in a career-high 10 points. Like she did most of last season, Samantha Cooper led the team in rebounding grabbing nine boards. As a team, the Stags showed energy grabbing offensive boards as the Stags came down with 16 offensive rebounds.
The Stags will play their first game of the season on George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall when they take on former MAAC rival Loyola on Tuesday at 7pm.
