FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The first-ever meeting between the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team and the UMass Lowell River Hawks will be aired on ESPN3. Fresh off their biggest second half come from behind victory in three years, the Stags will take the court on the road for the first time during the 2016-17 season when they travel to Lowell for a meeting with the River Hawks on Thursday at 7pm on ESPN3.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: A bandaged Casey Smith played the role of hero when she converted the go-ahead lay-up with five seconds left in the overtime period to give Fairfield their first win of the season against Loyola. Smith had missed just minutes with a cut above her eye which required stitches immediately after the game. It was the second game-winning lay-up in Smith's career, with the first coming on Jan 16, 2016 at Manhattan. In order to get to that point, the Stags had to rally late after trailing by 11 points in the third quarter. The Fairfield defense would not allow another field goal for 14 minutes of game time (from 7:57 in the third until 2:16 left in the fourth).
COMING OFF A RALLY: The Stags came back from an 11-point second half deficit to defeat Loyola (Md.) for their first win of the season. Fairfield won just one game last season when trailing by double digits (January 21 against Sacred Heart when they erased a 13-point deficit with 2:45 left in the first quarter). It was Fairfield's first second half comeback after trailing by double digits since February 14, 2013 when they came back after trailing by 10 with 15:35 left in the second half against Canisius. In that contest, Fairfield allowed just two field goals over the final 15:35 of the game with the Griffs shooting 2-for-12 during that stretch. Similarly, the defense for the Stags helped them come back against the Greyhounds. The Stags did not allow a Loyola field goal for nearly 14 minutes, as the Greyhounds shot 0-for-10 during that stretch.
THE RIVER HAWKS SCOUTING REPORT: The River Hawks numbers especially on the defensive side are a little askew after playing two difficult road contests against Towson and NCAA Tournament participant Maryland to open up the season. Both talented squads reached the 90 point plateau giving UMass Lowell a 95.0 scoring defense. However, this is a talented offensive group as Head Coach Jenerrie Harris welcomes her largest incoming class with eight new members. The River Hawks led the America East with a .332 3-point shooting percentage last season. Their two leaders in that category last season will return to Lowell with seniors Nicole Hayner (.389 from three last season) and Asia Mitchell-Owens who recorded a .382 3-point percentage last year. Kayla Gibbs is their leading returning scorer after averaging 11.9 points during the 2015-16 campaign, finishing just outside the top-10 in the league. Gibbs is also the leader on the glass, hauling in 7.6 boards last year. UMass Lowell will also look to snap an eight game home losing streak with their last win in Lowell, Mass., coming on December 9, 2015 against Holy Cross.
UP NEXT: The Stags will stay on the road when they take on Mount St. Mary's on Sunday at 2pm.
