ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will look to clinch a spot in the MAAC Championship Game for the first time in 10 years when they take on the fourth-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles in the MAAC Semifinals on Friday at 11am. Fairfield advanced to their third-straight semifinal after defeating Iona 69-56 on Wednesday.
 
With the stars shining in March, Rachel Hakes shined the brightest in the MAAC Quarterfinals as she enjoyed her best game as a Stag. Hakes set career-highs with 26 points and four made 3-pointers. She shot 3-for-4 from distance in the second half, helping Fairfield tally 45 points in the second stanza. It was just the second time in her career that Hakes had led the team in scoring.
 
Hakes also led the team with five assists, including the 390th of her career. She is now just eight helpers shy of entering the top-10 in Fairfield's program history.
 
Hakes and the Stags had to overcome adversity as their leading scorer, and the MAAC Player of the Year, Lou Lopez-Senechal faced foul trouble early in the game and limited her to just four first half minutes. She would make an impact right away as she netted 11 of the team's first 15 points to finish with 18.
 
The duo would help the Stags tally 45 second half points, tying their largest scoring output in any half this season with the second half in the season opener against Brown.
 
This will be the third time in the last seven seasons that the Stags and Purple Eagles have met in the MAAC Championships.
 
The Purple Eagles are led by All-MAAC First Team member Angel Parker who averages 17.4 points, 5.0 assists, and 4.1 steals a game.
 
The winner of the contest will advance to the MAAC Championship Final and face the winner of No. 2 Quinnipiac and No. 3 Manhattan on Saturday at 11am.