FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team bounced back after a disappointing offensive game at Rhode Island to record a season-high of 66 points in a 66-52 victory over Navy at the George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall. The Stags also had their best shooting game of the early campaign with season bests in field goal percentage (.464) and 3-point percentage (.438) in their first home victory of the year.
 
"Playing at home we have to make this a special place," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "We have to rise to the occasion when we're at home if we want to have a successful season. You have to take care of business on your home court."
 
The Stags used a 9-0 run in the first quarter to turn a 11-5 Navy advantage into a 14-11 Fairfield lead with 1:30 left in the first period, and the team would not trail again. The Mids momentarily tied the game at 14, but Callie Cavanaugh broke the deadlock with a put back layup in the final minute of the quarter.
 
Fairfield kept that momentum going in the second quarter, out-scoring Navy 23-11 while shooting 62 percent from the floor. Lou Lopez-Senechal led the Stags in the first half as she tallied 15 points, on a productive 6-for-8 shooting clip. She also connected on three of her four long range shots during the half.
 
Cavanaugh followed Lopez-Senechal as the forward chipped in 15 during the first half, helping the Stags to a 39-25 halftime lead. Cavanaugh, who spent a few hours before the game working on her post moves, shot 5-for-10 in the opening half, with most of those coming inside the paint.
 
"I think it was important because I've been in this real big slump the past couple of games," Cavanaugh said. "I knew that when I got the ball in the post I had to go to work, that was my job. Coach Frager was running plays for me and I wasn't doing the work early in the season. This is now my time and I knew I had to get out there early and get a couple of extra shots up before the game."
 
The Stags would keep a double digit lead throughout the rest of the contest as Navy was only able to get within 13 points midway through the third quarter.
 
Fairfield answered with a 7-0 run to grab their largest lead of 20 at 51-31. Andrea Hernangomez started the run with a highlight reel turnaround 3-pointer right in front of the Fairfield bench. Sam Kramer gave the crowd some more energy as she converted another 4-point play, hitting a 3-pointer from the wing and hitting the ensuing free throw. Kramer has now converted three 4-point plays in her career, including two this season. Her trifecta was the 113th of her career, as she now ties Meka Werts for 12th on the program's all-time list.
 
Fairfield, who entered the game with the eighth fewest turnovers in the country, once again did a good job at securing the ball as they limited themselves to 13 miscues. Navy entered the game forcing an average of 20.5 turnovers from their opponents, including a season-high 31 in their win earlier in the season to Clemson.
 
Fairfield actually forced more miscues than the Mids as they turned Navy over 16 times in the contest.
 
Three Stags finished in double figures with Lopez-Senechal leading the trio with a season-high 17 points. Cavanaugh tallied 15 after her impressive first half, and Rachel Hakes continues to be one of Fairfield's most accurate offensive player as she chipped in 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting. She also went 2-for-2 from distance, and is now shooting 80 percent (4-for-5) from behind the arc this season.
 
For the first time this season, the Stags were not out-rebounded by their opponent as each side finished with 33 boards. The Stags held the upper hand on the glass in the first half, however, out-rebounding the Mids 20-14 over the first 20 minutes, staking them to that 15 point advantage.
 
The Stags will try and keep the momentum going at home when they welcome Hofstra to Alumni Hall on Saturday at 2pm.