LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Anyone can provide a spark, and today the ignitor for the Fairfield University Women's Basketball was Macey Hollenshead. The senior tied her season-high with eight points in a two-minute span which started a game changing 14-0 run in the third quarter, eventually leading to a 68-57 victory over the Rider Broncs on the road. Hollenshead would finish with a career-high 14.
 
The Stags (8-12, 5-4 MAAC) played arguably their best inside-outside game of the season with Samantha Cooper providing the physical presence inside, leading all players with 21 points and 14 rebounds, including the 900th of her career as she becomes the fifth Stag all-time to reach that mark. Also, with her 21 points, Cooper jumps ahead of three different players to now rank 23rd on the program's all-time scoring list.
 
During that 14-0 run, Hollenshead, who was making her first start of the season, converted a layup at the 7:18 mark. That field goal snapped a nine-minute streak for the Stags without a field goal. After a 3-pointer and a traditional 3-point play by Hollenshead, Casey Foley and Sam Kramer both connected on long range shots to give the Stags a 38-31 lead, one they would not relinquish.
 
All of Cooper's 21 points came after the first quarter as she was the only starter not to tally a point through the first 10 minutes. Her impact would start in the second as she scored six of the team's nine points in the quarter.
 
Just like Cooper, Rider's (8-13, 5-5 MAAC) leading scorer Stella Johnson did not have a point in the first quarter and actually did not get into the scoring column until the 2:27 mark of the second. However, she would hit back-to-back layups in a 30 second span, the second of which knotted the game at 23-23 with 1:59 left in the half. After two free throws from Khadidiatou Diouf, Rider would take the lead into the locker room after a 3-pointer by Lexi Posset in the closing seconds.
 
After Rider scored the first five points of the third quarter, Hollenshead started the eventual game-deciding run. The Stags would score 20 points in the quarter, but would lead by only three as Rider made six-straight free throws to end the period.
 
Cooper single-handedly kept the Stags in front in the fourth quarter as she recorded seven points, including two traditional 3-point plays in the first six minutes. Her free throw out of the media timeout gave the Stags their largest lead at nine points. Sam Kramer would give Fairfield a double-digit advantage with two more free throws.
 
The Stags, who entered the game second in the MAAC in attempted 3-point field goals, showed more of a balance in the contest as they only tried 13 long-range, a season-low. Instead, the Stags made more of a presence inside the arc, shooting 48 percent on their 2-point attempts.
 
On the other side, the Stags held Rider to a 8-for-31 mark in the second half.
 
Four Stags reached the double figure mark in points, led by Cooper's 21 (8-for-14) and highlighted by a career-high 14 points by Hollenshead. Diouf would add 12 and Kramer also chipped in 12.
 
The Stags will try and build on their victory when they host Quinnipiac on Friday night at 7pm.