NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team improved their unblemished MAAC record to 5-0 after an impressive offensive showing at Niagara as the Stags defeated the Purple Eagles 81-64 to begin their Western New York swing. Four different Stags reached double figures in the victory, led by Lou Lopez-Senechal's 24 points with 22 coming in the second half.
 
Niagara was able to limit the MAAC's leading scorer in Lopez-Senechal to just two points in the first half, as the Stags had to find contributions up and down the roster. Fairfield found that next player up mantra from Sam Lewis who was red-hot in the first half as she connected on all four of her shot attempts from behind the arc. That offensive explosion helped the Stags out-score the Purple Eagles 26-9 in the second quarter and grab a 41-27 halftime lead.
 
Niagara, who entered the game as the conference's top offensive team, found their own offensive success in the third quarter as they were able to cut that deficit to just one point at 45-44. Lopez-Senechal would increase that advantage with a layup and followed by another score from Rachel Hakes on Fairfield's next possession.
 
Lopez-Senechal would have her best offensive showing in the fourth quarter as she netted the first eight points for the Stags and 16 in the quarter. Sydney Lowery also came up big in the clutch scoring the other eight points for the team in the final quarter.
 
Fairfield also showed energy on the defensive end going against the high paced Niagara offensive as the Stags drew five charges in the contest. Callie Cavanaugh led the Stags in that defensive area by drawing two charges. Cavanaugh leads the Stags with nine charges drawn this season.
 
Hakes orchestrated the Fairfield offense as she tied her season-high with 11 assists. With those 11 dimes, Hakes reached a milestone as she dished out her 300th career assist, becoming the 18th Stag to reach that mark.
 
The 81 points was the most scored by the Stags this season. Lopez-Senechal reached the 20-point plateau for the fourth-straight game and the seventh time this season. Fairfield is now 6-1 when Lopez-Senechal reaches that scoring mark. The senior would go 10-for-14 from the field in the second half.
 
Lowery finished behind Lopez-Senechal with 16 points and a game-high four steals. Lewis would end up with 15 points as she went 5-for-8 from behind the 3-point line. Cavanaugh also finished in double figures with 10 points and three blocks, the most by a Stag this season.
 
Fairfield will close out their Western New York swing as they visit the Canisius Golden Griffins on Saturday at 1pm.