FAIRFIELD, Conn. – During the last seven games, there has been no single hero, no one reason why the Stags have now won six of those last seven outings. No individual player to explain the turnaround.
And Fairfield would have it no other way.
The Stags used another balanced team attack with three players in double figures as Fairfield won their fourth-straight game with a 61-43 victory over Niagara, their second largest margin of victory this season.
"That's the balance that's so important for us," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "Especially when one player is a little off or has a little lull, someone can step up and carry the load a little bit."
"I love when our team comes together," Casey Smith, who had her 13th double digit showing in her last 16 games, said. "Everybody gets their points, everybody gets their boards, everybody gets defensive stops, it's just a really great time to be on the court when everybody is playing their best.
Kelsey Carey was the first Stag (12-10, 7-6 MAAC) to carry the load, scoring 12 of the first 15 Fairfield points, including a first quarter layup that gave the Stags the lead for good.
Fairfield would lead by as many as 14 in the first half, primarily helped on the defensive side, as the Stags held Niagara (6-16, 4-9 MAAC) to 24 percent shooting (6-for-25) while forcing 12 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. The Stags turned those miscues into 12 points.
"We're getting better," Coach Frager said about the team's defense. "There is still work to be done there but we're definitely getting better. When you practice for a team in a couple of days and you have a defensive game plan and certain tendencies you want to take away, and your kids go out there and do that, it makes it all worthwhile."
Enjoying a 29-14 halftime lead, the Stags opened that advantage to as many as 23 points, after a fourth quarter 3-point play by Kristine Miller, who finished with nine points off the bench.
Niagara had one last fight, building up a 9-0 run which lasted for nearly three minutes to cut the deficit to 55-41, but two free throws by Smith and a layup by Helena Orts stopped the comeback bid.
Carey led all scorers with 18 points, her third-straight contest with at least that number. Kristin Schatzlein went 3-for-6 from deep and finished with 11 points while Smith netted 10 and Miller was right behind her with nine.
On the passing side, the MAAC assist leader Lizzy Ball dished out five assists, which tied a game-high with Smith, who also set a season-high with her five dishes. Schatzlein handed out two helpers without a turnover, and has now recorded nine-straight assists without a miscue.
Ball also led the Stags in rebounding for the second time this season with her eight boards.
For the Purple Eagles, Jayla Nichols, who came in with two career points in four games, finished with a team-high 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting. Sam Lapszynski, the second most accurate shooter in the MAAC was limited to a 4-for-14 showing from the floor, but finished with a game-high 12 rebounds.
This win now puts the Stags over the .500 mark in MAAC play for the first time this season, and is their sixth win in the last seven outings. All of this coming after a team meeting.
"I'd like to say it was all about one team meeting we had," Frager said. "I think that helped…but I just think we all got sick and tired of how we were playing. We were putting so much effort into things, we weren't seeing the results, but I think they're paying more attention to detail."
"I think our past made us better," Smith said. "We realized what we had to fix and we went into the gym and fixed it."
The Stags will now have a big test as they host the Siena Saints on Super Bowl Sunday at the Webster Bank Arena. This game will tip-off a Stags doubleheader with the men's squad following the action with a game against Manhattan. All the action starts at 1pm.
