FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University women's basketball team will open up their final home stand of the 2016-17 season beginning with a game against the Canisius Golden Griffins on Thursday at 7pm at the George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall. Fairfield is currently in a three-way tie for third place with both Iona and Siena also recording an identical 11-7 MAAC record.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: The Stags wrapped up the road portion of their 2016-17 campaign with a 65-55 loss at Iona. It was the second-straight loss for the Stags after posting a season-long five-game winning streak. Trailing by only three at halftime, the Stags used a 13-0 run in the third quarter to take a six-point lead at 39-33 with 4:18 left in the frame. However, the Stags would not score another field goal in the period as the Gaels answered with a 14-3 run to end the quarter. The only points the Stags got during that stretch came off two free throws from Kristine Miller and one from Casey Smith. Fairfield cut the deficit to three early in the fourth quarter, but that would be the closest they got. Again, the Stags got into foul trouble with Miller, Smith, and Kelsey Carey all picking up two fouls in the first half. Smith returned in the second half and scored 16 of her team-high 18 points during the final 20 minutes. Miller also still had a productive contest with 11 points, the fifth time in the last seven games she has posted double figures.
SWEET AS LANDY: Kendra Landy has been one of the biggest surprises in the 2016-17 season as she is currently second on the team with a .462 shooting percentage which is nearly 30 points higher than her .160 shooting percentage of last season. The sophomore earned her first career start at Iona. She has scored in a career-high 21-straight games going back to the Harvard game on November 26. Landy had the best shooting game of her career, nailing four of her five attempts at Manhattan. Over her last five outings, Landy is shooting 67 percent from the floor (14-for-21). She is averaging 6.8 points per game during that stretch, which is the most of any guard on the team.
THE GRIFFS SCOUTING REPORT: The Griffs have presented many challenges for their opponents around the league as they have spread the floor playing a mostly guard lineup. In fact, the Griffs have only four players on their roster that are listed as true forwards. That presented a problem in the first meeting between the two team as the Griffs were able to knock down six 3-pointers, but also used their quickness to get out on the perimeter and holding the Stags to a 1-for-14 shooting percentage, which is still a season-low for Fairfield. Surprisingly, the Stags were out-rebounded by the shorter Canisius team (32-28). For the season, the Griffs have two players who average double figures with Sara Hinriksdottir leading the way with 15.5 points per game. The sophomore from Iceland recently overtook Kelsey Carey for fifth in the MAAC in scoring. The dangers that Canisius present is around the 3-point arc as basically everyone on their roster is capable of long range shooting with seven players attempting 20 or more this season. Margret Halfdanardottir paces the shooting numbers, connecting on 39 percent of her 3-point shots. The junior from Iceland went 3-for-7 from behind the arc in the first meeting with the Stags.
UP NEXT: The Stags will honor their three member senior class in Casey Smith, Kelsey Carey, and Kristine Miller in a special ceremony on Senior Day. The game will feature the Stags against a surprising Rider Broncs team who is currently tied atop the MAAC standings. Tip-off is scheduled for Sunday at 2pm.
