LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – There was some rust, but the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team was able to shake off the cobwebs in their first game in 21 days and push past the Rider Broncs with a 70-58 score, their third-straight victory in MAAC play. Lou Lopez-Senechal led the squad with 27 points and the NCAA's national assist leader Rachel Hakes added a career-high 13 dimes to improve Fairfield's conference record to a perfect 3-0.
 
"I have to give credit to Rider, I think a lot of that was them," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "They came out and played really well early on and were aggressive on the boards. We were a step slow on both ends of the floor. I thought Andrea (Hernangomez) gave us a huge lift  in the first half and Mackenzie Martin came in and played great defense for us and drew a charge, you can feed off that."
 
With the game tied heading into the final quarter, the Stags showcased their offensive success they were displaying before the long layoff. Fairfield shot 60 percent (6-for-10) from the field in the final quarter, including connecting on four of their five attempts from behind the 3-point arc. All those 3-pointers came in succession as Lopez-Senechal and Sam Lewis each swished through a pair on deep shots, eventually increasing the lead to double digits.
 
Hakes, who entered the game as the national leader with 8.8 assists per game, added a career-high 13 dimes including setting up five of the six field goals in the decisive fourth quarter. Lopez-Senechal stepped up during the crucial stretch, adding 10 of her career-high tying 27 points in the fourth quarter.
 
Hakes' 13 assists ties for the third most in a single game in program history and is the most by any Stag since Marybeth Chartier accomplished the feat on Feb. 10, 2002.
 
"Rachel is a smart player and is another coach on the floor," Frager said. "She knows what to look for and is very disciplined."
 
The Stags, playing in their first game in 21 days, started off ice cold from the field, shooting just 3-for-11 in the first quarter as the Broncs were able to grab a 15-7 lead after the first period.
 
Fairfield turned to their bench and found a sparkplug in Andrea Hernangomez whose 10 second quarter points helped the Stags find their footing and momentum, leading to a 27-point quarter for the squad. The Stags would turn a seven point deficit into a 34-29 halftime lead by ending the stanza on a 12-0 run, highlighted by a go-ahead 3-pointer by Hernangomez.
 
The Broncs would answer with a late run of their own to draw even in the third quarter after Daija Moses and Makayla Firebaugh connected on back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute to bring the game even at 48-48.
 
The game would continue in a deadlock until Hakes found a wide open Armstrong inside the lane, who converted the easy layup two minutes into the final quarter. Hakes would get into the double digit category for assists on the next basket as she set up Lopez-Senechal for a 3-pointer as the Stags grabbed a 53-48 advantage.
 
The Stags forced 17 Rider turnovers, leading to 20 points of the Fairfield offensive side. Aside from her help on the offensive side, Hernangomez also brought the intensity to the defensive side of the ball, leading the team with three steals.
 
Hakes neared a triple-double, finishing with 13 assists, seven rebounds, and seven points. Hakes led the Stags in both assists and boards in the contest.
 
Lopez-Senechal led a trio of Stags in double figures with 27 points, tying her career-high while shooting 62 percent from the floor. Katie Armstrong chipped in 15, on 6-for-10 shooting, with 11 of those coming in the second half.
 
Lewis had another accurate day from behind the arc, connecting on three of her five long range attempts.
 
The Stags will look for another series sweep when they take on Rider tomorrow at 2pm.