KINGSTON, R.I. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team suffered through various offensive droughts, leading to a 74-41 defeat at Rhode Island on Sunday. The Rams were able to use their height to their advantage by out-scoring the Stags 34-14 inside the paint.
Rhode Island was the aggressors from the very start of the game as the Rams scored 29 points in the first 10 minutes, matching the most the Stags have allowed in any quarter this season. The Rams shot 75 percent in the first quarter, and held a 10-0 margin on points off turnovers. Rhode Island would take advantage of the slow Fairfield start and jump out to a 29-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Fairfield tried to chip away the sizeable lead and looked like they had momentum as they netted the first five points of the second quarter.
Katie Armstrong and
Lou Lopez-Senechal were responsible for the scoring stretch, and Fairfield held Rhode Island without a point for the first four minutes of the second period. However, when the Rams' offense started to heat up the Stags' went cold again. The Stags went nearly seven minutes without a point until
Sam Kramer stopped the stretch with a 3-pointer.
The Rams only hit three field goals in the second quarter, but still was able to extend their lead going into halftime by connecting on five free throws. In total, the Stags shot 21 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes and were out-scored 20-2 in the paint to account for the 40-15 halftime deficit.
Fairfield found offensive success in the third quarter as they tallied 16 points, doubling their entire first half output. The Stags forced seven turnovers in the third by picking up four steals. Lopez-Senechal and Armstrong each swiped a pair in the quarter.
Lopez-Senechal led the Stags with 12 points while going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
Katie Armstrong and
Rachel Hakes neared double figures as they finished with nine and eight points respectively.
Fairfield will return home to open up a pair of games at the George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall, starting with a Wednesday night contest against Navy at 6pm.
