FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The last message that was left sprawled on the whiteboard in the locker room of the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team was "don't be denied." The squad took that message to heart as they posted a gritty 44-43 victory over Siena during the Play4Kay contest. With the victory, Head Coach Joe Frager notched his 200th victory on the Fairfield sideline.
 
"I think it's a real gutty performance from our team today," Coach Frager said. "They stepped up big when they had to, we made some big shots in the fourth quarter, and got some big rebounds. It wasn't pretty but I really don't care, it was a win."
 
The Stags (11-15, 8-7 MAAC) was the first team to cement a long run as they scored 10 of the game's first 14 points, a run that was capped by a Samantha Cooper lay-up. Siena (14-13, 9-7 MAAC) would answer with a run of their own, ending the quarter on a 10-2 run to take a 14-12 lead after the first stoppage.
 
The second quarter would feature seven on the game's 15 lead changes with neither side taking a lead more than one point until Kristen McLaughlin ended the half with four-straight points to take a 23-20 lead into the half. The Stags would only make three field goals in the quarter, but were able to hit their free throws to keep in front. Casey Foley and Cooper knocked down a pair and Macey Hollenshead converted a 3-point play to account for the scoring.
 
The Stags would lead for most of the third quarter with two free throws from Erika Schlosser extending the Stags' advantage to four points at the 6:14 mark. However, Siena was able to find their shooting stroke with Anna Lundquist and Sabrina Piper both knocking down 3-pointers to give Siena a 3-point edge. Hollenshead would answer back with a corner three to take a tied score into the final period.
 
A Khadidiatou Diouf lay-up broke the tie at the 7:59 mark, but that would be the only scoring for either side during the first seven minutes of the period. The Saints would get a late lead on five points from Lundquist to put the score at 40-39 with under two minutes to play. Diouf would convert a layup to put Fairfield back in front and the Stags would hit three of four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
 
Fairfield held Siena to a .321 shooting percentage, which included just eight points in the fourth quarter. The Stags also won the battle of the boards against a very physical and athletic Siena team, with Foley pulling down a career-high 10 rebounds. With 13 points and 10 rebounds, Cooper would finish with her fourth-straight double-double and the 14th of the season. Those 14 double-doubles is the most by a Stag in a single season since Stephanie Geehan recorded 19 during her senior season of 2009-10.
 
The Stags also recorded 10 steals with Foley and Hollenshead each tallying three.
 
Fairfield will hit the road to begin their final road trip of the season, taking on Saint Peter's on Monday at 7pm.