NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team held off a late charge by the Iona Gaels by locking them down defensively in a 52-40 win at the Hynes Athletic Center. The win improves the Stags MAAC record to a perfect 5-0, their best start in conference since the 2000-01 season.
 
Defense was once again at the forefront of the Stags' success as they held Iona to just 15 first half points, tying the fewest allowed in any half this season. That defensive stalwart was highlighted by a two-point second quarter for the Gaels. Iona's lone bucket in that second quarter came at the 4:18 mark of the period, stopping a 13-0 Fairfield run.
 
That 13-0 stretch turned a slim 14-13 Fairfield advantage into a sizeable 27-13 lead. Katie Armstrong and Lou Lopez-Senechal each tallied six points in that stretch, sandwiched in between a Sam Lewis 3-pointer.
 
Defense would take over at that point in the period as neither side was able to get a point after Williams' field goal at the 4:18 mark.
 
The Gaels would close within eight after completing a 7-0 run in the first three minutes of the period. Kendra Landy stopped that stretch with a long 2-point shot. That was the beginning of a 9-1 run for the Stags highlighted by a Lopez-Senechal 3-point play.
 
Landy would give the Stags a 16-point lead as she swished through a 3-pointer from the right wing. Lopez-Senechal capped off the third quarter by beating the buzzer on a jumper, giving the Stags a 43-27 lead going into the final quarter.
 
The Gaels would chip into a Fairfield lead that reached as many as 16 in the third quarter with an 8-0 run spanning three minutes in the final period. Molly Bauer snapped that streak with a free throw, but the Stags would not get another field goal for the rest of the game as they were shut down for the last eight minutes of the game in that category.
 
With the offense struggling, the Stags came up with big defensive plays down the stretch with a block by Lopez-Senechal and a steal by Landy in the final two minutes.
 
Landy was also the leader for the Stags on the boards as she finished with a career-high 10 rebounds. She just missed a double-double by finishing with nine points. Callie Cavanaugh and Armstrong followed Landy with seven rebounds each as the Stags narrowly out-rebounded the Gaels 36-34.
 
Lopez-Senechal led the Stags with 13 points with Armstrong right behind her at 12.
 
The Stags will head home for a quick homestand when they welcome Manhattan to Alumni Hall on Thursday at 7pm.