FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will finish up a season long three-game home stand when they welcome the Rider Broncs on Wednesday night at 7pm. The contest will be a rematch of last year's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Semifinal, a game where the Broncs would win 49-36.
 
Through intense defensive efforts, the Stags are off to their best start in the conference since the 2011-12 season. The Stags are one of three current unbeaten teams in the MAAC, joining Quinnipiac and Marist. This is the sixth time in program history that Fairfield has started 3-0 in the MAAC, with four of the previous teams extending their streak to 4-0.
 
As stated, the Stags have found their success on the defensive side through the first three conference matches, allowing 53.3 points per game and limiting their opponent to a league best .337 field goal percentage. At the heart of the defensive stand has been junior guard Casey Foley, who currently leads the MAAC with 3.3 steals in conference games. Her 10 steals in the first three conference games is the most by a Stag in at least 15 years.
 
The defense has helped the Stags clamp down on an opponent, especially during crunch time. Friday's comeback victory over Monmouth is the second-straight game where the Stags mounted a fourth quarter comeback. The Stags trailed by nine to Niagara and five points to the Hawks in the final quarter. In total, the Stags are limiting their first three conference opponents to a .261 shooting percentage in the fourth quarter.
 
In order to go 4-0, the Stags will have to defeat a Rider squad who is coming off two-straight MAAC victories against Saint Peter's and Canisius. As a team, Rider ranks in the top half of the conference in several offensive categories including fifth in scoring offense (62.8) and field goal percentage (.387). The Broncs have had a player reach 20 points in eight games this year, including four-straight contests. Leading scorer Stella Johnson racked up 29 points in the victory at Saint Peter's and Lexi Posset netted 27 in their last win against Canisius.
 
Johnson (14.9) and Kamila Hoskova (14.3) are the two players to average double figures for the Broncs. Built around post play, Rider is averaging just 5.1 3-pointersper game but is shooting 43 percent on 2-point attempts.
 
The Stags will hit the road to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to take on Marist on Saturday at 4pm.