BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team opened up their three-game homestand as they defeated the Saint Peter's Peacocks 63-56 at Webster Bank Arena. The Stags had three players reach double figures in scoring led by 19 from Lou Lopez-Senechal, who was one point shy of her 10th-straight 20-point game. With the victory, the Stags pick up their 10th MAAC win of the season and boost their conference record to 10-1
 
"It was a hard-fought game and we 100 percent expected that," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "I'm real proud of our kids because when we had a lead, I don't think we played well with it but our players responded really well in the second half. We showed a lot of poise and came up with some big defensive stops in terms of taking charges late in the game and we went 17-for-20 from the foul line."
 
After a deadlock 30-30 halftime score, Fairfield would out-score Saint Peter's 21-15 in the third quarter and hold a slim one-point advantage in the fourth.
 
Saint Peter's would take their last lead of the game on a Kourtney Crane jumper that made the score 36-34. The MAAC's leading scorer, Lopez-Senechal, would take control of the game for the next two minutes as she netted nine-straight points for the Stags. This came after the Peacocks were able to limit her to just four first half points.
 
Lopez-Senechal's nine-point streak ended with a pull up jumper that gave the Stags a three-point lead which was immediately cut to one after a Peacocks basket. Rachel Hakes would respond with a 3-pointer which started a game-deciding 8-0 run for Fairfield. Four of Fairfield's five starters would tally at least one point during that run.
 
Fairfield took their largest lead of the game as another Lopez-Senechal jumper made the score 55-45 with 6:47 left in the game.
 
Saint Peter's had one last gasp as they cut the lead to just three with 23 seconds remaining, but Sam Lewis and Hakes calmly hit both of their free throws to clinch the seven-point win.
 
Lopez-Senechal's 19 points led a trio of Stags in double figures as she was joined by Hakes' 13 and Sydney Lowery's 11. The duo of Hakes and Lowery helped the Stags in the scoring column early as they combined for 14 points over the first half.
 
Hakes also led the Stags with nine rebounds and five assists while also drawing seven fouls. Callie Cavanaugh was a defensive star for the Stags, drawing a season-high three charges and has now recorded 18 charges throughout the season. Fairfield drew five charges as a team with Hakes and Janelle Brown also stepping up in the driving lane.
 
"I want good things for this group," Coach Frager said. "I'm history in a couple of months and I want these players to have the best season possible. Hopefully we can keep this thing going."
 
Fairfield will continue their three-game homestand when they welcome the Niagara Purple Eagles on Thursday night at 7pm.