NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Stags finally have a reason to celebrate. And it came from a complete team effort that led to a 55-42 victory over Iona, the first conference victory of the season for the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team.
"I can't understate how much we needed this win," Head Coach
Joe Frager said. "The kids kept their composure, did a nice job inbounding the ball on the sidelines and this is huge. Right now it's just a grind for one game at a time and trying to get better."
The defense was the big story for the Stags, who held Iona to just 42 points and a 24 percent shooting mark, both were season bests for Fairfield.
That defensive stronghold started from the get-go as Fairfield held Iona to just 11 first half points, a stretch where they shot just 15 percent from the floor. The Gaels missed their first seven shots and hit just one of their 14 attempts in the first quarter. With Iona's struggles on the offensive side, the Stags were able to grab a 14-5 lead by the end of the first period.
Three-point field goals by
Sam Kramer and
Eden Nibbelink gave the Stags highlighted the run to give Fairfield a five-point lead.
Casey Foley converted the traditional 3-point play a few minutes later, the fourth different player to score for the Stags in the period.
The Stags also forced eight turnovers in the first quarter.
Offensively, the Stags were as balanced as any game this season. Seven different Stags scored led by 13 points by Kramer and 10 from
Katie Armstrong, who also scored the team's first six points in the second quarter.
Lou Lopez-Senechal and
Khadidiatou Diouf finished just short of double figures with nine and eight points respectively.
The Stags, who never trailed in the game, led by as many as 17-points on a Kramer lay-up with 38 seconds left in the third quarter. Iona would chip away and would get within eight points on a Tori Lesko free throw midway through the fourth quarter.
Fairfield's defense held Iona to just 12 made baskets, the fewest by any opponent this season.
The Stags will look to keep their winning ways going when they welcome Siena on Tuesday at 7pm at Alumni Hall.
