KINGSTON, R.I. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team could not overcome a slow start and the hot-shooting of Rhode Island's Abby Streeter as the Stags fell 62-47 to the Rams at the Ryan Center. The Stags made a comeback to take a four point lead in the third quarter, but the Rams ended that period on a 10-1 run and Streeter hit three-straight 3-pointers in the fourth to seal the win for the Rams.
 
The uncharacteristic sloppy start began immediately as the Stags (3-7) turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter, more miscues than they had in either of their last two contests. They had entered the game ranked in the top-20 in the country in fewest turnovers per game after averaging 5.5 in the last two games.
 
The Stags were still able to hang around with Rhode Island (2-8), despite shooting 57 percent in the first 10 minutes. The Rams only led by seven after the first quarter.
 
The sluggish start continued for the team in the second quarter as the Stags started 1-for-10 with Samantha Cooper's 3-pointer the lone bucket for the Stags. That allowed the Rams to take their largest lead of the half at 26-16.
 
After the second quarter media timeout, the Stags started to show a little more life by recording a 6-0 run over a two minute span. The stretch started as Cooper hit back-to-back layups in a nine-second span, helping the Stags trail by just five points (30-25) going into halftime.
 
The Stags were able to stay in the game despite shooting just 27 percent (9-for-34) in the first half with a solid defense that forced 12 Rhode Island turnovers. Kristen McLaughlin's steal in the final minute helped the Stags get a final possession, which Khadidiatou Diouf used to get the final layup of the half.
 
The tide of the second half started to change as the Stags would start the third quarter on a 8-2 run and grab their first lead of the night after back-to-back 3-pointers by Sam Kramer. The play that shifted the momentum was the first of those long range shots when the Stags grabbed two offensive rebounds to keep the play alive. The Rams would actually get the ball back but the Fairfield defense would force an errant pass and got the ball up ahead for a wide open Kramer.
 
Kramer would give the Stags their largest lead of the night at 38-34 after connecting on her third 3-pointer of the quarter.
 
That would be the last field goal for the Stags, however, as the Rams would end the quarter on a 10-1 run, holding Fairfield without a field goal for the final 5:45 of the period to take a 44-39 lead into the final quarter.
 
The Rams would hit their shots in the final quarter as Abby Streeter hit three-straight 3-pointers to give Rhode Island their largest lead at 56-43. Rhode Island would lead by as many as 15 in the victory.
 
For the game, Kramer led the Stags with 16 points with Diouf finishing behind her at 11. The Stags shot just 22 percent from long range including their final 10 of the game.
 
Rhode Island hit 45 percent of their shots from the floor, long range, and the free throw line. Nicole Jorgensen led the team with 19 points.
 
The Stags will play in their final non-conference game of the season on Thursday, December 21 at Seton Hall at 11am.