LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team fell to the MAAC unbeaten Rider Broncs 60-52 as the Broncs set a program record with their 12th-straight win. The Stags' defense was up for the challenge, forcing 26 Rider turnovers and holding the nation's leading scorer Stella Johnson to her second lowest scoring output of the season, but could not complete their comeback.
 
Fairfield went on a 14-4 run in the fourth quarter that got them within a single possession after a Rachel Hakes jumper put the score at 52-49. Rider answered back with a Lea Favre layup, a play where Lou Lopez-Senechal was called for her fifth personal foul.
 
Fairfield held Rider to their lowest scoring since their season opening loss at Princeton. Stella Johnson, who entered the game as the nation's leading scorer to just 15 points, her second lowest of the year.
 
The 14-4 run was the biggest scoring stretch for the Stags and was led by five points from Kramer including her third 3-pointer of the game.
 
Stella Johnson would tally just three points in the first 19 minutes of the game, however, she would find her way back into the scoring column as she swished through a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the first half to give the Broncs a 25-15 advantage.
 
Rachel Hakes got the Stags within five with four minutes left in the half as she hauled down an offensive rebound and secured the put back to make the score 20-15 in favor of the Broncs.
 
Fairfield would go scoreless for the final four minutes of the first half as the Broncs ended the half on a 5-0 run.
 
The Stags stayed in the game with their defense as they forced 11 Rider turnovers in the first half, as they picked up six steals with three coming from Andrea Hernangomez.
 
Fairfield would double their halftime score by netting 15 in the third quarter. The Stags got within single digits after a pair of Lopez-Senechal free throws, but Rider ended the quarter on another last second 3-pointer coming from Lexi Stover.
 
The Stags, however, would keep fighting in the final quarter, especially during crunch time. The 14-4 run turned a 48-35 deficit into a 52-49 Rider lead.
 
Fairfield would force the 26th Rider turnover on a back court violation to give them the ball, leading to a Hakes' long jumper to put the Stags within those three points.
 
Rider answered back with a 3-point play chance by Lea Favre after hitting a layup where Lopez-Senechal was called for her fifth personal foul.
 
Katie Armstrong led the team with 14 points with Kramer right behind her with 13. Lopez-Senechal added 12, her eighth-straight game in double figures. Kramer led the Fairfield passing attack with four assists while Lopez-Senechal led the Stags rebounding effort with eight boards.
 
The 26 turnovers was the most the Stags have forced from an opponent this season. Hernangomez would finish with a career-high four steals with Callie Cavanuagh tying a personal best with three.
 
The Stags will now welcome Marist to Alumni Hall on Thursday night at 7pm.