FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The night that many Fairfield Stags fans, of all ages, have been waiting for is almost here. The opening of the new on-campus Leo D. Mahoney Arena will take place as the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team competes in the inaugural game of the new arena on Friday night at 7pm against Stonehill.
 
The on-campus arena, which spans 85,000 square feet and will house 3,500 fans, will be the brand-new home for the Fairfield Basketball and Volleyball teams. The $51 million arena is replacing Alumni Hall, which housed Fairfield games for nearly 60 years. The ribbon-cutting will begin several events that day beginning at 10am.
 
All-time, the Stags are 27-14 in home openers, including a 70-67 victory over UConn in the first Division I women's basketball game at Alumni Hall in 1981.
 
This year's version of the Stags will bring a 1-2 record into the historical game after a hard-fought, physical loss at Yale on Monday. Fairfield forced 20 turnovers in the setback with Janelle Brown leading the defensive effort with a career-high six steals. She turned the intensity on the defensive end into points on offense finishing with a personal-best 21 points including a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
 
For the year, the Stags rank third in the MAAC with 19.7 turnovers forced per game. Brown leads the MAAC and places 20th in the nation with her 11 steals this season.
 
Brown is one of five Stags to already capture career-highs in points through the first three games. Izabela Nicoletti-Leite chipped in a personal-best 14 points at Penn State and Callie Cavanaugh's 36-point outburst against Brown has highlighted the scoring.
 
Stonehill will be looking for their first win of the season after an 0-3 start. Their top four scorers are all seniors, led by Maddie Loder's 11.3 points per game.
 
The Stags will stay in their new home for a quick turnaround game against nationally-ranked Michigan on Sunday at 2pm. Prior to the game, the Stags will unveil their 2021-22 MAAC Championship banner.