FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The third-straight impressive defensive stand helped lead the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team to their best conference start in seven seasons. The Stags held Monmouth to 55 points and a .357 shooting percentage in taking a 61-55 overtime victory on Friday afternoon. With the victory, the Stags start the conference slate at 3-0 for the sixth time in program history and the first time since the 2011-12 season.
 
The Stags (6-8, 3-0 MAAC) needed overtime for the victory after Monmouth's (2-11, 0-2 MAAC) Rosa Graham hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left to even the game at 50-50. In the extra frame, the Stags would outscore Monmouth 11-5 starting with a Macey Hollenshead 3-pointer on Fairfield's first possession. The Stags would also connect on six of their eight free throw attempts.
 
Just like in their previous contest, the Stags needed to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter. Fairfield would trail by five with 9:23 left in regulation after an Alaina Jarnot 3-pointer made the score 38-33. The Stags would answer by scoring the game's next 12 points by shooting 5-for-6 during the 12-0 run.
 
Khadidiatou Diouf tied the game and gave the Stags the lead in the matter of 30 seconds. Her second jumper gave Fairfield the advantage at 40-38, their first lead since the 2:22 mark of the first quarter. Sam Kramer would give the Stags their largest lead up to that point with a 3-pointer that closed a 15-2 run at the 4:36 mark.
 
Throughout the rest of regulation, Monmouth did what they needed to do to get back into the game. Monmouth scored five points in the final 45 seconds of the game, including Graham's heroics with time nearly expiring.
 
Although Monmouth led for 25 minutes in the game, the Fairfield defense was able to keep the game within striking distance. Monmouth's biggest lead was nine points at the 5:59 mark in the second quarter. The Stags would finish the quarter on an 8-1 run that featured four-straight points from Kristen McLaughlin.
 
The Fairfield offense was run through Casey Foley who finished with a season-high eight assists, with five of those coming on the Stags' final eight baskets.
 
Samantha Cooper was the Stags' leading scorer with 17 points and also won the battle of the boards with nine. Kramer (14) and Diouf (13) were the other Stags to finish in double figures.
 
The Stags will end their three-game home stand when they host Rider on Wednesday night at 7pm.