BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team opened conference play with an impressive 57-52 victory against the reigning MAAC Champions Marist on Saturday afternoon at Webster Bank Arena. Lou Lopez-Senechal led a trio of Stags in double figures and Andrea Hernangomez hauled down a game-high 17 rebounds as Fairfield won their first MAAC game for the third-straight year.
 
"Marist is a program that we have a tremendous amount of respect for…so anytime you get a chance to beat them, it's special," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "It's really good to start the MAAC slate with a win."
 
The Stags would control the first 20 minutes of the game, scoring 37 points in the first half to grab a 15 point halftime lead, their largest of the game.
 
After Marist scored eight of the game's first 11 points, the Stags would respond with an 11-0 run to grab a lead they would not relinquish. Four different Stags scored during the 11-0 rally with Lopez-Senechal tying the game with a 3-pointer and Hernangomez giving the Stags the lead with a jumper at the 5:53 mark.
 
Fairfield would extend their lead in the second quarter, scoring the first seven points of the period to grab a 21-11 advantage. Rachel Hakes began the quarter by swishing through a 3-pointer and Lopez-Senechal's fast break layup forced a Marist timeout.
 
The Stags would increase their halftime lead to 37-22 after Janelle Brown and Sam Lewis connected on back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute of the half.
 
Fairfield would then spend the rest of the game trying to protect their hard fought lead after Marist charged back in the third quarter, out-scoring the Stags 14-4. The Stags would connect on just one of their 13 field goal attempts in the quarter to cut their lead to five.
 
That lead would dwindle to one possession after a Trinasia Kennedy 3-pointer put the score at 45-43, but the Stags would find the big baskets when they needed them the most. Hakes would respond with a 3-pointer to push the lead back to five.
 
Hernangomez would convert a traditional 3-point play midway through the fourth quarter after Marist had once again cut the lead to a single possession. Marist had one late charge after a Julianna Bonilla bucket put the score at 53-50.  Lopez-Senechal would tally her final field goal of the game as she rose above her defender to swish in her jumper and extend the lead to five points with 90 seconds left.
 
Lopez-Senechal would tie for a game-high with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds. Hernangomez tallied her fifth career double-double with 10 points and 17 rebounds. Hakes was the third Stag in double figures with 12 points as she went an efficient 3-for-4 from the floor.

With the win, the Stags start MAAC play 1-0 for the third-straight season. The win also snaps Marist's streak of 16-straight wins in MAAC openers.
 
Fairfield will look to start their MAAC season 2-0 when they travel to Hamden, Conn., to face MAAC power and in-state rival Quinnipiac on Monday night at 6pm.