FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Defensive numbers might not be the first statistic that grabs your attention in a box score, but the defensive effort by the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team in tonight's game caught the eye of Head Coach Joe Frager and his team. The Stags allowed just 10 points in the final two periods, including one field goal over the last 10 minutes to post a 59-53 comeback victory in overtime against Niagara. With the win, the Stags move to 2-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), joining Quinnipiac and Marist as the only three schools to win their first two conference games.
 
"I'm absolutely thrilled with the heart the team showed tonight," Frager said. "We're going to have to scratch and claw for the wins that we get. I can't say enough about what Casey Foley did tonight. Her stat line is good but some of the other things she did defensively was really off the charts tonight."
 
Foley led the defensive charge for the Stags (5-8, 2-0 MAAC) who had to endure the final 6:38 of the contest without one of their most consistent scoring and rebounding presence in Samantha Cooper. Cooper fouled out in the fourth quarter in a tied game after tallying her sixth double-double of the season (13 points and 11 rebounds).
 
After Cooper's final foul, the Stags would allow just one field goal for the rest of the game with Kaylee Stroemple picking up the lone basket for Niagara (4-9, 1-1 MAAC) midway through the overtime period.
 
Foley also had an immediate hand offensively as the Stags trailed by two with just over a minute left to play in the fourth quarter. With less than five seconds on the shot clock, Foley drove to the basket and was fouled, setting up two free throws that would potentially tie the game. The junior connected on both attempts, and went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe on the night.
 
In the overtime period, the Stags recorded two steals and two blocks that limited Niagara to go 1-for-7 from the field with four turnovers. Foley tallied both of those steals to tie her career-high with four for the second-straight game.
 
Kristen McLaughlin also stepped up with Cooper's absence, converting the only field goal for the Stags in the period, and blocking a 3-point attempt 30 seconds later.
 
Fairfield would hit six free throw attempts in the extra frame to seal the victory.
 
The defensive effort really started in the second half after Niagara notched a .452 shooting percentage and 32 points during the first 20 minutes to take a 32-23 lead into the half.
 
The Purple Eagles would hit just 23 percent of their shots the rest of the way.
 
The Stags would grab their first lead of the game on a Sam Kramer 3-pointer that made the score 49-48 with 4:04 left in regulation.
 
Along with Foley's four steals, Khadidiatou Diouf gave the Stags a shot blocking presence in the paint as she swatted a career-high four blocks. The redshirt junior was also a force on the boards by picking up a personal best 15 rebounds.
 
Diouf and Cooper recorded double-doubles in the game, the second-straight game that the Stags have had two players notch double-doubles. Foley joined the duo as the three Stags in double figures as she posted 14.
 
Stroemple and Victoria Rampado also posted double-doubles for Niagara in the losing effort with Rampado leading all scorers with 15 points and tied Diouf with a game-high 15 boards.