FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will open up Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play when they travel to two-time reigning conference champions Quinnipiac on Thursday, Jan. 3 at 7pm. It is the first time that the Stags will open up their conference slate against their in-state rivals.
 
The Stags are coming off a 68-60 victory over UIC that concluded their stay in Las Vegas over a week ago. In just her second career game, Lou Lopez-Senechal led the Stags with 21-points on 7-for-14 shooting. Lopez-Senechal was just one of several Stags to step up offensively in their two game stay as the Stags averaged 69 points per game in the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic.
 
Casey Foley was another shining example as the senior shot 70 percent from long range in the two games (7-for-10) and posted a career-high 18 points against UIC. In Fairfield's first game, Foley did not miss a shot as she hit all four field goal attempts including three from behind the arc. She also converted both of her free throw attempts. Foley now ranks 14th in program history with 88 3-pointers made.
 
Khadidiatou Diouf averaged a team-best 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the two games. Her 23 points in the overtime loss to Furman was the most scored by a Stag this season. She also grabbed 10 rebounds in the setback, marking the first double-double by a Stag during the campaign.
 
The Stags and the Bobcats will be opening up not only conference play but also the calendar year of 2019. Under Joe Frager, the Stags are 7-3 in their first game of a new calendar year, including winning three-straight.
 
The Bobcats are on the quest for their third-straight MAAC title after posting a 5-6 record in the non-conference schedule. As usual, Quinnipiac is a deep team with many weapons on both sides of the ball. Jen Fay is the team's leading scorer (11.9 points) and rebounder (6.6 caroms per contest). While Quinnipiac has struggled shooting the ball (33 percent as a team), the Bobcats defense has been stifling allowing a league-best 58.3 points per game.
 
After their contest in Hamden, the Stags will have another road conference game when they visit Rider on Sunday, January 6 at 2pm.