FAIRFIELD, Conn. – In the midst of their best conference start in 20 years, the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will look to continue their winning ways when they host the Manhattan Jaspers on Thursday night at 7pm on the George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall.
 
The Stags improved their conference record to 5-0 with a 52-40 victory over Iona on Saturday afternoon. Fairfield joins Rider as the only unbeaten teams in the league. The defense was at the forefront of their success once again, as Fairfield held Iona to just 15 points in the first half, tying the fewest allowed by the Stags this season. The highlight of that defensive effort was a 2-point second quarter output for the Gaels as Iona shot just 1-for-10 from the field. The Stags would out-score Iona 11-2 in that period and led for 36 minutes in the contest.
 
In their five conference outings, the Stags have trailed for a combined 6:30.
 
The 5-0 start is the second time in program history the Stags have gotten out to such a fast start and the first time since the 2000-01 squad started the MAAC slate 8-0. Ironically, the last win during that stretch was a victory over Manhattan on Jan. 23, 2001. Fairfield would earn an at-large bid at the end of that season.
 
The Jaspers have split their last four conference games which includes blowout wins at Saint Peter's and Siena with losses to Quinnipiac and Marist. Manhattan has a high pressured defense that has forced an average of 17.8 turnovers per game. Four different Jaspers have recorded at least 20 steals led by Courtney Warley's 40. In conference games, the Jaspers average a league-high 10.4 steals per outing.
 
Freshman Emily LaPointe is the team's leading scorer at 12.1 per game as she continues to make her case for the Rookie of the Year award. She is also second on the team in 3-pointers and paces the team with 49 free throw attempts.
 
The Stags will hit the road for their shortest road trip of the season, traveling up I-95 to take on reigning MAAC Champions Quinnipiac on Saturday at 4pm at Hamden, Conn.