Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team could not stop the hot-shooting hands of Bucknell as the Bison shot 56 percent and the Stags dropped a 77-54 decision in the Turkey Tip-off at Brown University. The Stags showed fight throughout the entire game, but Bucknell seemed like they could not miss a shot, especially during the first 25 minutes of the game where they connected on 67 percent of their attempts.
The Stags (2-3) gained the early advantage after a
Katie Armstrong 3-pointer gave Fairfield a 7-6 lead. That lead was short lived as the Bison (4-2) gained an 11-9 edge before a
Kendra Landy jumper knotted the score at 11-11 at the 4:10 mark. Bucknell, who entered the tournament in the top-15 in the Mid-Major Poll, would answer by scoring the next seven points and would end the period on a 14-4 run to grab a 24-15 lead at the end of the first.
The Stags tried to fight back with their best shooting quarter of the game, hitting 50 percent of their shots in the second.
Khadidiatou Diouf led the charge with eight points in the second period. The Stags offense was clicking in the frame, assisting on five of their six made baskets, led by Landy's four helpers.
However, Bucknell was just as successful on the offensive end connecting on 70 percent (7-for-10) in the quarter. A game after the Bison tied a program record with 14 made 3-pointers, Bucknell hit five of their first nine long range shots in the half. A Diouf buzzer beating jumper cut the Fairfield deficit to 41-30 into the intermission.
After the Stags scored five points in the first 1:40 of the third quarter on a 3-pointer by
Casey Foley and another shot clock buzzer beating layup by Diouf, Bucknell would respond again. The Bison would tally the next seven points, capped by a 3-pointer by Ellie Mack which forced a Fairfield timeout and a 52-35 lead for the Bison.
Bucknell kept that hot streak going in the third, hitting six of their first seven shots in a five minute span to take their largest lead of the game at 58-37. Up to that point, Bucknell was shooting 67 percent (22-for-33) during the first 25 minutes of the contest.
The Stags kept fighting back, helped by the intensity of
Rachel Hakes. In her first game with extended minutes, Hakes had an impressive outing and was vital with the Stags staying in the game. Hakes showed her toughness on the defensive side with three rebounds in her first six minutes and also drew two charges in the game.
Diouf led the Stags with 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Armstrong also chipped in with 16 points, including seven-straight for the Stags spanning between the third and fourth quarters. Landy led the offense with six assists.
The Stags will close out play in the Turkey Tip-off on Sunday in a contest against UMass at 3pm.
