FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team erased a 17-point first half deficit to take the lead 25 seconds into the second half, but Atlantic 10 member Rhode Island used a 10-2 run to begin the fourth quarter to squash any potential comeback victory for the Stags. With the absence of Casey Smith for the third-straight game, Kristine Miller set career-highs in both points (20) and rebounds (12) in the 72-65 setback on the George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall.
Rhode Island (3-3) dominated the first seven minutes of the contest, jumping out to a 23-6 lead behind a 12-point performance from Preseason Atlantic-10 First Team member Charise Wilson. Wilson's 3-pointer gave the Rams their largest lead of the day with 17 and forced a Fairfield (3-2) timeout.
Whatever was said in that huddle, the Stags took to heart as they kept chipping away to eventually tie the game on a steal and layup from Kelsey Carey midway through the second quarter. The Fairfield rally also coincided with the defensive intensity against Wilson, as she was limited to just one jump shot in the second quarter after notching 12 during the first seven minutes. Wilson was coming off a program record 38 point performance against Samford.
After the Stags tied the contest for the first time in the afternoon, Rhode Island responded with a 3-pointer from Dina Motrechuk but the Stags also had an answer. Just 12 seconds later, freshman Sam Kramer nailed her third 3-pointer of the half, tallying a career-high 13 points during the first 20 minutes. Both teams played solid defensively for the rest of the period with the Rams hitting just three field goals and the Stags connecting on two during the final four minutes of the first half. Rhode Island would take a 41-40 lead into the locker room.
Kristine Miller took over to begin the second half, registering 10 points in the third quarter. Once again, Rhode Island went on a run and took a seven point lead on three different occasions in the quarter but Miller had the highlight of the game when she converted a game tying layup and gave the Stags the lead with the ensuing free throw as Fairfield led 57-56 with 1:59 left in the third quarter.
The Stags made one last run at the game, cutting a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to just four on another layup from Miller. However, that would be the last points for the Stags as the Rams scored the game's three final points to take the 72-65 decision.
Wilson led all players with 26 points while Miller led four Stags in double figures and recorded her second career double double. Kelsey Carey reached the double digit plateau for the fifth-straight game, the second longest streak of her career as she finished with 14 points. Kramer notched 13 while Samantha Cooper had 10 and tied the team-high with four assists.
The Stags will head home for the Thanksgiving holiday before getting back to the hard wood when they travel to Cambridge, Mass., for a road game against Harvard on Saturday at 6pm.
