LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – 2020 might be the year of the Stag. The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team dominated in every facet of the game as they opened up Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play with a resounding 65-35 victory on the road against Siena. The Stags led for 32 minutes in the game and opened up a 30-point lead in the second half, their largest of the season.
 
"It's conference play time," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "Everyone coming in is 0-0. We said before the game, 'we got to do this 20 plus times and let's not leave anything on the court. At the end of the year whether we are cutting down nets or whatever we're doing in the final game of the year, let's not have any regrets about would've, could've, should've.'"
 
Fairfield (4-6, 1-0 MAAC) played a complete team game that saw the squad dish out 19 assists on just nine turnovers. Seven different Stags recorded at least one assist in the game with the trio of Kendra Landy, Callie Cavanaugh, and Rachel Hakes combining for 12 assists with just one turnover. Cavanaugh would record a new career-high with four dishes, doubling her old personal best.
 
However, the biggest stat came on the boards as the Stags out-rebounded Siena 45-26, the first team this season they have out-rebounded. Fairfield controlled the boards throughout the entire game, picking up 15 of the game's first 19 boards.
 
The domination for the Stags started early, and to see evidence of that you just have to look at the box score.
 
The Stags tallied a season-high 40 points in the first 20 minutes while holding Siena to just 18 points, the fewest of any opponent in a half this season.
 
Their control of the boards helped the Stags build a 14-0 run that spanned the first two quarters that helped turn a slim 13-11 Fairfield lead into a sizeable 27-11 advantage.
 
The Stags' defense held Siena to just 1-for-14 shooting during an eight minute stretch while only scoring seven points in the second period. Fairfield also forced nine Siena turnovers in the first half, with Callie Cavanaugh drawing two charges in the second quarter.
 
The Stags continued their team play in the second half as they extended their lead to 30 in the third quarter, their largest of the season.
 
Fairfield would tally season-highs in many offensive categories including: field goals made (26), assists (19), and rebounds (45).
 
Defensively, the Stags forced 18 turnovers and scored 22 points off those miscues compared to just two for the Saints. Fairfield also held Siena to just 35 points, 16 fewer than any opponent this year.
 
Lopez-Senechal led the team with 17 points and a season-high eight rebounds. Katie Armstrong neared a double-double with 13 points and a season-high nine boards. Sam Kramer also entered double figures with 14 points with a 3-for-7 showing from behind the arc. Kramer has now tallied 119 3-pointers in her career, seven shy of entering the program's top-10.
 
The Stags will have a week off before their next MAAC test when they host Monmouth in the annual Kids' Day Out on Thursday, Jan 9 at 11am at Alumni Hall.