HAMDEN, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will be going into the holiday break with a bunch of holiday spirit. The Stags earned their first road win against MAAC power Quinnipiac in eight years as they defeated the Bobcats 66-62 at the People's United Center. With the win, the Stags increase their MAAC record to 2-0 for the third-straight season.
 
"Obviously I'm thrilled for the girls," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "To come back on one day prep and beat an outstanding well-coached Quinnipiac team. We knew they were going to come after us strong in the second half but I was really happy with how we responded in the fourth quarter."
 
Lou Lopez-Senechal led the Stags in the upset victory with a game-high 26 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. Sydney Lowery also made big plays on both ends of the floor, recording her first career double-double with 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
 
The Stags used a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter to break a tie score and would gain a lead they would not relinquish. Lowery started the run with a layup that gave the Stags the lead and would be immediately followed by a Lopez-Senechal 3-point play as she hit the contested layup.
 
The 7-0 run gave the Stags a 51-44 lead just minutes into the final quarter. Lopez-Senechal would continue her hot shooting by connecting on three of her first four shots in the fourth. She would hit another jumper one minute later and Andrea Hernangomez highlighted the early fourth quarter performance with a corner 3-pointer, forcing a Quinnipiac timeout with a 58-49 lead, Fairfield's largest of the night.
 
Lowery would give the team another boost as she swished through a jump shot while she was fouled, converting the traditional 3-point play. Lopez-Senechal would add another bucket and Fairfield would rely on their defense the rest of the way.
 
That hot shooting performance was a carryover from the third quarter as the Stags broke a 38-38 tie with three field goals in the final two minutes of the third. Lopez-Senechal would hit a pair of those field goals.
 
The Stags highlighted the first quarter with a pair of 6-0 runs to grab an early lead. Rachel Hakes started the stretch as she swished through a 3-pointer to give Fairfield a 9-8 advantage. Lopez-Senechal would follow with back-to-back buckets and increase the Stags lead to 13-8.
 
Quinnipiac would rally to regain the lead midway through the second quarter, but the Stags would respond and end the quarter on an 11-4 run to take a 34-27 lead into the locker room.
 
Janelle Brown led the charge as she swiped an errant pass and raced up the court to convert the fast break layup and put the Stags back out in front 25-23.
 
Hernangomez ended the half with a nice hook shot with three seconds remaining for the 34-27 halftime score.
 
The Stags would force 14 Quinnipiac turnovers compared to just six miscues for the Stags. Fairfield would score 15 points off Quinnipiac miscues.
 
Lopez-Senechal led the way with a game-high 26 points, the 22nd time in her career she reached 20 points. Fifteen of those points came in the second half.
 
Lowery tallied her first career double-double with 13 points including an impressive 5-for-6 from the free throw line. Hernangomez also neared a double-double with 11 points and nine boards.
 
Hakes led the passing attack with four assists and also recorded three steals and six rebounds.
 
The Stags will now be on break for the holiday season and will return to the court at home against Iona on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 7pm at Webster Bank Arena.