FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team fought nationally-ranked Michigan to their closest margin of the season as they fell 69-53 to the Wolverines on Sunday. The Stags held the No. 23 team in the country to their season-low in points and rebounds (32) in the setback.
 
The Stags scored 11 of the game's first 17 points to grab an 11-6 lead after Janelle Brown converted a layup at the 4:03 mark of the first quarter. Michigan would take the lead after a 6-0 run before Mackenzie Daleba netted a lay-up to give Fairfield a 13-12 advantage. That would be Fairfield's final lead of the afternoon after Michigan ended the quarter on back-to-back 3-pointers in the final minute.
 
Fairfield held tough against an Elite Eight team from a season ago. The Stags would cut the deficit to just one possession twice in the second quarter coming after 3-pointers by Izabela Nicoletti-Leite and Lauren Beach. Beach's long-range shot put the game at 26-25 with just 2:22 left in the first half. Michigan would end the half, however, on an 8-0 run to take a 34-25 lead into the half.
 
The Stags held Michigan, who entered play averaging 91.0 points per game, to a season-low 69 points on 24 made field goals. The Wolverines also entered the game leading the Big Ten in rebounding margin (+25) but was only out-rebounded by five in the contest.
 
Fairfield also forced 19 turnovers and is now averaging 20.8 turnovers forced per game.
 
Callie Cavanaugh led nine Stags who reached the scoring column as she finished with a team-high 12 points. Nicoletti-Leite was the only other Stag in double figures as she netted 10 while going 2-for-5 from long-range.
 
After playing three games this week, the Stags will have a 10-day break before lacing up in a road game against Fordham on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 5:30pm.