FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Women's Basketball is set to host Monmouth on Friday at 11 a.m. on George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall.
Admission is free of all fans.
The Stags will be looking to start the conference season 3-0 for the first time in seven years when they take on Monmouth. It's been the Fairfield defense that has guided the team to their first two victories. The Stags are allowing a conference low 52.5 points in their first two league games, and are coming off an inspired second half defensive effort against Niagara. In that contest, the Stags allowed just 10 Purple Eagle points in the final 15 minutes to overcome a nine-point fourth quarter deficit.
Casey Foley was at the fore-front of the defensive stand by swiping a personal best four steals for the second-straight game and the third time this season. Through two games, Foley was tied with Manhattan's Gabby Cajou with eight steals in the first two conference games.
Aside from pulling down a career-high 15 rebounds,
Khadidiatou Diouf was also a shot blocking presence by swatting a personal best four blocks. Two of those swats came in the overtime period, where Fairfield allowed just one field goal.
The Stags opponent, Monmouth and their new Head Coach Jody Craig will play in their second conference game of the season after falling to Marist on December 30. Overall, the Hawks have lost six-straight after their victory against North Florida on November 25 in Jacksonville.
Monmouth has two players that average double figures in scoring in Kayla Shaw and Utah Valley transfer Rhaiah Spooner-Knight. Shaw is also the team's biggest threat from behind the arc as she has connected on a team-high 36 percent of her long range shots. She is also second in the MAAC with 2.3 3-pointers per game.
Defensively, Erica Balman is the most successful shot blocker in the conference, averaging 1.8 swats per game. The Hawks also lead the conference with 39.3 rebounds per game and their 0.8 rebounding margin is the best in the conference.
The Stags will next close out their three-game home stand when they take on Rider on Wednesday at 7pm.
