FAIRFIELD, Conn – For the second-straight game, the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team erased a halftime deficit and rallied in the second half to pull out a victory, this time defeating Iona 67-56 to begin a Fairfield basketball doubleheader. Khadidiatou Diouf was a big factor in the comeback, recording a double-double with 19 points and 20 rebounds. With the 20 boards, Diouf becomes the second Stag in history to have multiple 20 rebound games in the same season, joining Fairfield great Katrina Fields.
 
"My mindset was just to have a nose for the basketball," Diouf said. "Whenever I go up, I tell myself 'it's yours and you just have to go get it. No one else is going to get it.' Obviously the boards will help keep the ball alive or giving them a one and done on the defensive end to help my team stay on top of everything."
 
Diouf nearly finished her second-straight double-double, and her fifth of the season, by halftime as she registered 10 rebounds and eight points in the first 20 minutes.
 
The Stags would still trail by four at the halftime intermission as they struggled with foul trouble. Lou Lopez-Senechal, Eden Nibbelink, and Sam Lewis all were whistled for two fouls in the first half, making the Stags adjust on the fly. Lewis did net five points in her first half action.
 
When the starters returned, that's when Fairfield found their momentum on both ends of the court as they would be able to grind past Iona in the third quarter. Casey Foley tied the game with a jumper right before the third quarter media timeout, part of a 15-4 run to end the quarter. Iona would take their final lead with a Tori Lesko basket but Diouf would tie the game with a lay-up and two Foley free throws would give the Stags a lead they would not let up.
 
Foley would follow that layup with a 3-pointer and Katie Armstrong would end the quarter with a layup, giving the Stags a 49-42 lead into the final period.
 
Fairfield allowed just one Iona field goal over the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter allowing them to extend their lead to as many as 15. Foley had the highlight of the run with a 3-point play on a fast break that stretched the lead to 13.
 
Along with Diouf, two other Stags reached double figures with Foley putting in 16 and Armstrong finishing with 11. Foley also hit two 3-pointers to bring her career total to 126, moving her to ninth on the program's all-time list. She also led the team with six assists and three steals.
 
Diouf's 20 rebounds was one shy of her career-high, which she set against Saint Peter's on January 15. Those 20 boards helped the Stags to a 17-6 advantage on second chance points.
 
Diouf, Foley, and Kendra Landy will be honored before Fairfield's next contest as the trio celebrates their Senior Day on Saturday at 2pm against Rider.