BRIDGEPORT, Conn., - Sydney Lowery tallied six crucial points in overtime, helping the Fairfield University Women's Basketball team to out-score Canisius 11-2 in the extra period and leading to a 63-54 victory at Webster Bank Arena. With the win, the Stags boosted their conference record to 12-1, marking their best conference mark since the 1990-91 season.
 
"I'm super proud of this win," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "When you're in the position we are right now you have to be ready every time you step on the floor that your opponent is going to play their very best. I thought our kids did a great job overcoming adversity. It was the first game this year we played without Lou (Lopez-Senechal) and she is a very important part of who we are and we needed everyone to elevate and step up."
 
After Canisius netted the first field goal of the overtime period, the Stags would hold the Griffs without a point the rest of the way as they went 0-for-7 from the floor.
 
Rachel Hakes would tie the game with 3:18 left in overtime with a driving layup. Lowery would connect on a big 3-pointer on the next offensive possession to give the Stags a three-point lead. Lowery would then collect an offensive rebound and convert the put back to beat the shot clock and extend the lead to five.
 
Lowery, Janelle Brown, and Cavanaugh would combine to go 5-for-6 from the charity stripe the rest of the way to seal the victory.
 
The Stags would build an 8-2 run in the beginning of the fourth quarter, highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers from Hakes to put the score at 46-38 with 5:49 remaining.
 
Canisius would chip away at the Fairfield lead, tying the game on a 3-pointer from Shaunae Brown at the 1:54 mark. Erika Joseph would give the visiting side a one-point advantage with a bucket to put the score at 52-51 with 44-seconds left.
 
The Stags would haul in a pair of offensive rebounds in the crucial possession, leading to a Cavanaugh shooting foul with 22-seconds left. The graduate student was able to tie the game by hitting one of her free throws, giving the Griffs the last possession of regulation.
 
Fairfield's defense stepped up at the critical time, not allowing Canisius to get a shot off before the final horn. Canisius did have a chance with 0.6 seconds left but the basket was waved off after review showed they did not get the shot off in time.
 
Fairfield erased a two-point halftime deficit with a 9-0 run to start the third quarter with six of those points coming from Andrea Hernangomez. Sam Lewis, who got the start to replace the injured Lopez-Senechal also connected on a 3-pointer during that 9-0 stretch.
 
Lewis would tie for the team lead with 14 points as she connected on four 3-pointers. Cavanuagh, Hernangomez, and Lowery would also reach double figures in scoring.
 
Hakes had another all-around productive day, leading the team with nine rebounds and seven assists to go along with eight points while playing all 45 minutes.
 
The 12-1 MAAC start is Fairfield's best start to conference play since the 1990-91 squad went 15-1 in league play. The 12 conference victories also ties IUPUI and Youngstown State for the most in the nation.
 
"We're growing," Coach Frager said. "Every game is a growing experience. There has been patches where we have had a wide-eyed look and you don't want people tightening up. We still have to go out there and do what has gotten us to this point. All we can do is control what we can control and as long as we do that we're proud of this group."
 
After playing three games in a five-day span, the Stags will have a short time to rest their legs before traveling to Iona for a contest with the Gaels on Thursday night at 7pm.