FAIRFIELD, Conn. – This game is slated to be a classic matchup between offense against defense. The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team, who owns the MAAC's top-ranked defense, will host the Saint Peter's Peacocks who enters play as the highest scoring offense in the league. The Stags will also be looking for their third-straight MAAC win when they take the floor on Saturday at 2pm on the George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall.
 
Fairfield's top-ranked defense has been exceptional through the first two MAAC games as they have held their two opponents to just 36.5 points per game, nearly 16 points fewer than the next closest MAAC team (Rider). Fairfield's defense also leads the league in opponent field goal percentage (.252), the only MAAC team to hold their opponents under 30 percent. The Stags have surrendered an average of just nine 2-point field goals in their first two MAAC games, starting off the season with eight at Siena.
 
On the outside, the Stags have the best perimeter defense in the league, as well. Their opponents have connected on just eight of their 40 attempts from behind the arc, for a 20 percent mark.
 
The Stags are coming off another defensive masterpiece as they held Monmouth to just 38 percent on 24 percent shooting, the lowest percentage by a Fairfield opponent this season. That defensive effort helped the Stags to a 49-38 victory over the Hawks behind nearly 2,000 local school kids on Kids Day Out. It marked the first time since 2010 that the Stags have held back-to-back opponents under 40 points when they held Lafayette and Villanova under that mark. It was also the 19th time under Joe Frager that a Fairfield opponent failed to reach 40.
 
Lou Lopez-Senechal led the Stags in scoring for the second-straight game as she tallied 17. She has reached double figures 22 times in her first 33 games, a number that only two other Stags have reached (Lisa Mikelic in 1988 and Katrina Fields in 1982). Katie Armstrong was the Stags' top rebounder for the sixth-straight outing as she pulled down a career-high 11.
 
The Stags once again did a good job of protecting the ball as they allowed just nine turnovers against Monmouth. The Hawks were only able to score one point off of those turnovers. Through their first two MAAC games, Fairfield's opponents have totaled a combined three points off of Fairfield miscues. To put that into perspective, the other lowest amount of points off turnovers in any MAAC game this season is four when Cansius forced that number against Monmouth on Jan. 4. Entering play, the Stags are second in the country in fewest total turnovers, trailing just Penn by seven.
 
One of the most improved teams in the conference, Saint Peter's enters as the MAAC's top-ranked offensive team, averaging 76.2 points per game which is 32nd in the country.
 
One of the big reasons for the Saint Peter's turnaround has been the play of their transfer, who are all averaging double figures in scoring. Taiah Thornton leads the bunch with 14.8 points in just 27.8 minutes. Gabrielle Harris follows her with a 14.3 scoring average while Kendrea Williams adds 13.6 points with a team-best .451 3-point shooting percentage. Each member of the trio are transfers from FDU-Florham, the previous coaching stop for Head Coach Marc Mitchell.
 
The Stags will close out their three-game home stand when they host Canisius on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7pm at Alumni Hall.