LEWISTON, N.Y. – For the first time in five years, five members of the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team reached double figures in scoring, but once again the Stags came up just one possession short. Niagara's Jai Moore split the defenders and hit the game-winning lay-up and hit the ensuing free throw with four seconds left in overtime to defeat the Stags 71-68 at the Gallagher Center.
Sam Kramer was one of the five Stags to reach double figures as she finished with 11 points, and it seemed like all those points came in crucial situations. The biggest of those points came when she drove the baseline and floated in the game-tying lay-up with three seconds left to force overtime. She would also hit a 3-pointer with one minute remaining in the extra period to break the tie score and give Fairfield a 68-65 advantage.
That 3-pointer was set up by a defensive play by
Rachel Hakes who drew a charge to give possession back for the Stags.
That lead would not last long as Maggie McIntyre tied the game with a 3-pointer on the next possession and Moore would win the game in the final seconds.
Casey Foley was another Stag to reach double figures as she tallied 14, including going 2-for-6 from behind the arc. Her long-range shot in the final minute of regulation put the Stags within one possession at 63-61 and also marked the 100th made 3-pointer of her career as she became the 13th Stag all-time to reach that number.
Katie Armstrong did a little bit of everything for the Stags as she finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high six assists. Armstrong scored the first overtime points for the Stags. She orchestrated the offense in the first quarter with a team-high three assists, helping all five starters reach the scoring column.
Lou Lopez-Senechal led the Stags with 15 points, with 11 of those coming in the first 21 minutes of the contest.
Khadidiatou Diouf recorded 13 points and six rebounds.
The Stags gained control of the game as they ended the first quarter on a 7-0 run, starting with a Foley 3-pointer and capped off by a long pass one the inbounds by Armstrong that Lopez-Senechal was able to track down and convert for the fast break lay-up. That run was extended to 9-0 as Fairfield scored the first bucket of the second quarter to take an 18-9 lead.
The Stags would lead by as many as 10 in the first half, the eighth time this season they had led at the half.
Fairfield still led by eight midway through the third quarter after a Kramer 3-pointer put the score at 46-38. Niagara would end the half on an 8-2 run to get within one possession.
The Purple Eagles were not able to gain the lead until the 3:35 mark of the fourth quarter where Moore swished through a 3-pointer to put the score at 58-56.
Along with the five Stags in double figures, three Stags dished out six assists with Armstrong, Kramer, and Foley reaching that mark.
The Stags are back in action when they travel to Iona on Thursday night at 7pm.
