FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half, including double digits in the fourth quarter, the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team rallied late and used a Lou Lopez-Senechal go-ahead jumper with 2.8 seconds to go to seal the comeback victory over Marist 61-58. The Stags scored nine of the game's final 10 points and did not allow a Marist field goal for the final seven minutes of the game for the exciting comeback victory.
 
"I think a key point was during the time out," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "We just talked about our identity and where we wanted to go as a team. We didn't really talk about winning tonight, we just talked about progressing to be the type of team we want and I said, 'don't go away, don't give up this one easy.' I thought they did a phenomenal job."
 
The Stags trailed by 10 with just over eight minutes to play in the final quarter when they started to make their comeback. A layup by Andrea Hernangomez and a 3-pointer by Katie Armstrong cut that deficit in half, but Marist would answer back with another jumper to increase the lead back to seven. The Fairfield defense clamped down after that make, holding Marist without another bucket for the remainder of the contest.
 
With just under two minutes to play, the Stags came up with some big plays to pull out the victory. Hernangomez made it a three point contest as she converted her layup while being fouled to put the score at 57-54 with 1:28 remaining. Hernangomez would miss the ensuing free throw, but Lopez-Senechal made a hustle play by bringing down the offensive board and muscling through two defenders for the putback and put the Stags down one.
 
Lopez-Senechal would later give the Stags the lead by hitting two free throws, but Marist would tie the game seconds later with a free throw of their own, setting up the game's final dramatic moments. In their final offensive play, the Stags gave the ball to their playmaker in Lopez-Senechal and she did not disappoint as her jump shot attempt bounced off the back iron and through with 2.8 seconds left in the game to put the Stags up two.
 
"Just so many emotions," Lopez-Senechal said. "Just right now just talking it's a lot because when you miss a lot of shots like that you can make it can be frustrating. But when the team believes in you, the coach believes in you, it gives you confidence and that's what I needed for the last shot. I'm just so glad I made it."
 
"It says a lot about her," Coach Frager said. "She really cares. It shows her character. She can miss 20 shots in a row and if we need a basket late she is one of the kids I want to touch the ball. I want her to take that 21st shot."
 
The Stags had three players finish in double figures, led by Lopez-Senechal's 16. Katie Armstrong and Callie Cavanuagh each finished with 10. Fairfield got good production out of the point guard spot with both Rachel Hakes and rookie Janelle Brown controlling the offense. Hakes led the Stags with seven assists and swished through a key 3-pointer in the second half. Brown gave the Stags a huge spark off the bench by hitting four of her five shot attempts and finished with a career-high nine points. She also showed her poise down the stretch by assisting on the game-winning basket, one of her four dishes on the night.
 
With the win, the Stags salvaged a season split with Marist and overtakes the top spot in the MAAC with their 5-1 conference mark. Joe Frager also picked up his first victory at Alumni Hall this season, and the 99th in his Fairfield career.
 
The Stags will once again hit the road for the next five games when they travel to Buffalo, N.Y., for a two game series with Canisius starting on Friday evening at 5pm.