FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team will return to their more usual surroundings as they open up play at the George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall when they host former conference foe Loyola in the first game played at the venue this season. The game will have more meaning than just the second game of the season as the Stags will be lacing up with gold shoelaces as part of the 'Lace Up For Pediatric Cancer' campaign which aims to which to help kids with cancer achieve their goals.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Stags opened their season with a 56-44 setback against rivals Sacred Heart in the Crosstown Classic. While the defense clamped down on the Preseason favorites out of the Northeast Conference, their offense was not able to get the Stags over the hump. Fairfield shot just .314 as a team to account for the 44 points. In her first career start, junior Macey Hollenshead ran with her chance to be in the lineup, setting career-highs in almost every category including: minutes (28), points (10), 3-pointers (two), and free throws (two).
LACING UP FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER: Tuesday's game will have more meaning than just the second game of the season. Fairfield will be 'lacing up' with gold shoelaces to help spread awareness for pediatric cancer. Fairfield will also be accepting donations as part of the initiative for the Go4TheGoal program, which aims to help kids with cancer achieve their goals. Started in 2006, Go4TheGoal has an unwavering mission to improve the lives of children battling cancer by providing financial support, developing and implementing unique hospital programs, funding innovative research, and granting personal wishes. The 'Lace Up' initiative was started in 2011 by various soccer teams across the country.
THE GREYHOUNDS SCOUTING REPORT: Loyola was picked to finish seventh in the Patriot League after recording a 16-16 record last year and making the conference's Championship Game. Twelve players return from the 2015-16 Patriot League runners-up with the most impactful being Bri Betz-White, who was one of five representatives on the Preseason All-Patriot League team. The big losses for Loyola include Colleen Marshall and Jeneh Perry. Marshall was the first Greyhound player in program history to be named to the All-Patriot League First Team while Perry became the first Greyhound forward since 2006 to make an all-conference squad. Loyola was the Cinderella story of last season's Patriot League tournament by winning six-straight games at the end of the season, including an upset of the co-regular season champions Bucknell in the semifinals. The squad would reach their first-ever Patriot League title game. This season, Loyola has had a busy week to start off their campaign as they will be taking the court for the third time this season. Loyola defeated Lipscomb by 44 points in the season opener, the largest winning margin in the Joe Logan era. Betz-White has led the way in the early going, averaging 18 points per game on a .571 shooting percentage.
UP NEXT: The Stags will open up their first road trip of the season when they travel to Umass Lowell on Thursday at 7pm.
