BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Senior Lou Lopez-Senechal was one of four Fairfield University Women's Basketball student-athletes to reach double figures as she scored her 1,000th career point to help the Stags to a convincing 76-52 victory over Brown in the 2021-22 season opener. The quartet of Stags in double figures was led by a career-high 20 points from Callie Cavanaugh as the Stags scored 45 second half points to pull away for the victory.
 
"It's always good to start your season off with a W," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "I thought we were a little jittery in the first quarter and some of our decision making early on wasn't the best, but after we settled down in the second half we did a lot of positive things."
 
The Stags did a lot of positive things in the first half as they shot 49 percent from the floor while scoring 45 points and out-rebounding Brown 28-12 in the second stanza. Cavanuagh was the highlight of the final half as she netted all 20 of her new career-high number in the half as she went 9-for-13 from the field.
 
Fairfield started the second half on a 16-3 run to turn a 31-27 halftime lead to a 17-point advantage in the third quarter. Sydney Lowery started the scoring span with a 3-pointer, her second of the game.
 
Cavanaugh would end the third quarter by scoring the final eight points for the Stags while adding another 10 points in the final quarter.
 
The Stags were looking for that balanced scoring after getting just two players in the scoring column in the first quarter. Lopez-Senechal would tally 11 of the team's first 13 points, including connecting on a 3-pointer to secure her 1,000th career point. With the milestone, Lopez-Senechal becomes the 32nd Stag to reach the mark and the third fastest in program history. Lopez-Senechal reached the feat in her 69th career game, trailing only the program's all-time leading scorer Gail Strumpf (67 games) and Katrina Fields (60 games).
 
"I'm so grateful," Lopez-Senechal said. "My teammates love me and it's good to have a team that believes in me. Seeing people get 1,000 points at other schools and on social media, now I'm one of them. I'm very grateful, it's a great feeling, and I'm very happy to be out there."
 
On the defensive side, the Stags showed aggression and forced 20 Brown turnovers on 12 steals, leading to 22 points off those miscues. Fairfield out-scored the Bears 22-0 on points off turnovers.
 
Cavanaugh's 20 point showing was followed by 19 from Lou Lopez-Senechal and 15 from both Lowery and Andrea Hernangomez.
 
Rachel Hakes, who finished last season fourth in the country in assists per game, dished out 11 helpers, with nine of those coming in the second half.
 
Mackenzie Martin tied for the team lead in rebounds as she pulled down a career-high eight in 17 minutes.
The Stags will now hit the road for the next four games, starting with a Sunday afternoon contest at Rutgers with a 2pm tip-off.