FAIRFIELD, Conn. – With just a half a game separating the two teams, the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team gained a little separation in the MAAC standings by pulling out a crucial 72-60 victory over three-time defending Quinnipiac Bobcats at Alumni Hall. Lou Lopez-Senechal gave a performance to remember in front of her family and friends, leading the team with 26 points, just one shy of a career-high.
 
"You have to keep telling the team that it's a long season," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "You can't get too down and you can't get too high because it can be a roller coaster. They responded really well and Laura Scinto did a great job with the scout and the kids really responded."
 
One of the several student-athletes who responded after the team's lackluster play over the last few games was Lopez-Senechal, who had even more motivation today. The sophomore was playing in front of her family who made the long journey from France to see her play for the first time this season. She responded with 26 points and a 5-for-9 showing from long range.
 
Her biggest output came in a crucial third quarter as she poured in 12 of the team's 23 points as the Stags out-scored Quinnipiac 23-17 to extend their eight point halftime lead.
 
When Quinnipiac cut the Fairfield lead to five at 33-28, Lopez-Senechal recorded a personal 6-0 run that was highlighted by a 3-pointer from the wing that stretched the lead back to double digits.
 
Despite allowing 11 points over the final five minutes of the third quarter, the Stags matched Quinnipiac bucket for bucket, with Rachel Hakes, Lopez-Senechal, and Sam Kramer all swishing in triples to keep the Fairfield lead safe. Kramer's long range shot gave the Stags a 16 point advantage, their highest of the afternoon.
 
Fairfield out-scored Quinnipiac in three of the four quarters, with the Bobcats only having a 21-19 edge in the final period. Andrea Hernangomez also gave the Stags valuable minutes as she tallied her first career double-double, tying a personal best 11 rebounds to go along with 10 boards. It is the second-straight game that Hernangomez has entered double figures in rebounds.
 
Kramer was the orchestrator of the offense as she dished out eight assist while netting 17 points. It's the third time in the last five games that Kramer has reached at least eight helpers in a game, a stretch where she is averaging 6.2 assists. She also went 3-for-6 from behind the 3-point arc in making her 144th career 3-pointer. She passes Sabra Wrice '08 for eighth on the program's all-time list as is now chasing Kate Abromovitch '93 who had 159 in her career.
 
With the win, the Stags hold the third place standing in the MAAC moving their conference record to 10-5. Fairfield will continue their busy week with a visit to league-leading Marist on Monday at 7pm.