FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A few days after their longest road trip of the conference season, the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will go for one of their shortest when they travel on I-95 to New Rochelle, N.Y., to take on the Iona Gaels on Thursday night at 7pm.
Like the Stags, the Gaels will be searching for their first conference win of the season as Iona has started 0-7 in MAAC play.
Fairfield dropped their sixth-straight contest, falling 71-68 in overtime at Niagara. The Purple Eagles got their winning basket from Jai Moore, who hit a contested jumper with four seconds left in the extra period and connected on the ensuing free throw for the victory. It marked the third-straight game, and the fourth in the last five, where Fairfield has fallen from the opponent's last shot. In those four games combined, the Stags have led for 124 of the possible 165 minutes, and has only trailed for a combined 21:14.
Sam Kramer gave the Stags the lead in the final minute by swishing through a 3-pointer, but Niagara was able to knot the score up seconds later on a long-range shot by Maggie McIntyre. Kramer was the Stag to force overtime as she hit a baseline driving lay-up to tie the score with two seconds left in regulation.
For the first time in five years, all five Fairfield starters reached double figures in scoring. The last time Fairfield had five players in double figures was Dec. 31, 2013, also against Niagara.
Casey Foley was one of the five Stags in double figures, as she netted 14 points, including two 3-pointers. Her last long-range make not only put the Stags within one possession late in the fourth quarter, it also marked the 100th of her career as she became the 13th Stag ever to reach that mark. With six more steals, Foley will become just the third player in Fairfield history to reach 250 assists, 100 made 3-pointers, and 150 steals. She will join Jessica Grossarth and Holli Tapley in that club.
As a team, the Gaels are averaging 42.8 points per game, and have tallied fewer than 50 points in seven of their last eight outings. Three games ago against Rider, Juana Camilion tallied 22 points, the most by a Gael this season.
Morgan Rachu is leading the squad in points (11.5), rebounds (5.8), 3-pointers (42), and steals (27). Tori Lesko has been Iona's playmaker in the post with a team-high 56 assists.
The Stags will have a quick one-game home stand when they welcome Siena to Alumni Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at 7pm.
