AUSTIN, Texas – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team ended their season the same way they have played the entire year: fighting hard and never backing down. The Stags cut a 22-point deficit to just 10 on a couple of occasions in the second half but could not complete the comeback against second-seeded Texas in a 70-52 final score. The Stags, who were making their first appearance in the NCAA Championships in 21 years, ended their season tying a program record with 25 wins.
 
"I'm just so proud of these two that are sitting here to my right and our entire program," Head Coach Joe Frager said. "Zero quit in these women, and I think that they really represented the university as they have all season long and just did a fabulous job. We knew at halftime we weren't going to go away. That's not in the DNA of this team. We knew we were going to fight back. I think we got it down to 10 there late in the third. We thought we could make a dent early there in the fourth quarter, but I believe their size just sort of started to wear on us inside."
 
Fairfield was dug an early hole with their leading scorer Lou Lopez-Senechal missing all of the second quarter due to an injury in the first quarter. The senior was hit in the mouth and required stitches, but would still return in the second half.
 
Her return gave the team a much-needed spark as the Stags out-scored the second-seed 23-15 in the third quarter and cut the deficit to 10 with 35 seconds left. Texas would increase that lead by hitting three of four free throws in the final seconds of the period.
 
Lopez-Senechal hit a 3-pointer just nine seconds into her return in the second half and would actually lead all scorers with 10 points in the quarter.
 
Fairfield had another run in the fourth as they netted five-straight points on a Rachel Hakes three-point play and a steal and fast break layup by Andrea Hernangomez.
 
The Longhorns would answer with a 14-0 run to extend their lead before Lopez-Senechal and Janelle Brown connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the game.
 
Lopez-Senechal led the Stags with 17 points in 29 minutes by hitting five of her 10 shot attempts including a perfect 2-for-2 from behind the arc. Her 17 points was just one shy of tying the game-high as Texas' Aaliyah Moore tallied 18 off the bench.
 
Callie Cavanaugh also reached double figures for the 15th time this season with 10 points. Hakes completed the trio of Stags in double figures also with 10 points. Hernangomez led the defensive front with a game-high five steals.
 
With the loss, one of the best seasons in school history comes to an end as Fairfield snapped their 15-game winning streak, the longest Division I stretch in program history. The Stags finished with 25 wins, tying the program record.
 
With her 17 points, Lopez-Senechal recorded just the second 600-point year in school history as she finished with 604 points. She also brought her career total to 1598, ranking the sixth most in school history.
 
Hakes finished with five assists bringing her season total to 187, tying her for the second most in a single season for the Stags. Her career total stands at 418, tying her for the sixth most all-time.
 
With all that success, the Stags hoisted the MAAC Championship trophy for just the fourth time in program history and the first since 1998. Fairfield dominated the regular season with a 19-1 conference record, tying them for the most conference wins in the country.
 
The Stags finished their year in the NCAA Tournament, the first time in the Big Dance since 2001. With all those accomplishments, the biggest takeaway of the season goes beyond all the successful numbers as they displayed all their passion and dedication in every single game. And they fought until the very end.