FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will welcome nearly 2,400 local area school kids to a loud Leo D. Mahoney Arena when they take on Niagara for the annual Kids Day Out contest on Thursday afternoon at 11am. The contest will also have free admission to all fans.
 
The Stags will enter the week in a three-way tie for first place after an exciting 52-50 victory over Manhattan improved their conference mark to 4-1. Janelle Brown played the hero of the win as she picked the pocket of the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year and rushed up the court to convert the game-winning layup with 13 seconds remaining. Brown would finish with 14 points, the fourth-straight game she reached double figures. Over that stretch, she is averaging 15.3 points per game. One of the best on-ball defenders in the MAAC, Brown ranks second in the conference and 25th in the nation with 2.8 steals per game.
 
Fairfield was led in scoring with 16 points from Callie Cavanaugh, who also tallied her 1,000th career point. Her milestone bucket was memorable as her 3-pointer beat the first quarter and cut into a 13-point Manhattan lead, their largest of the day. The Jaspers had also led by double digits in the third quarter and by five points in the final five minutes. The Stags were able to hold Manhattan scoreless over the final five minutes of the game.
 
The Stags and the Purple Eagles are known for their defensive intensity as both teams combine to force nearly 50 turnovers per game, with Niagara leading the NCAA with 30 per game. Fairfield has forced 20 or more turnovers in seven games this season and are forcing 22.2 miscues by MAAC opponents.
 
Niagara enters with a 4-2 MAAC record and are led by Aaliyah Parker and her sister Angel Parker. Combined, the two are averaging 32.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 6.4 steals per game.
 
Fairfield will be hosting their seventh Kids Day Out contest when they welcome nearly 2,400 kids from 17 local area schools. All-time the Stags are 4-2 in Kids Day Out contests that they host, winning their last contest against Monmouth in 2020.
 
The Stags will have another quick turnaround when they travel to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., to face the Marist Red Foxes on Saturday at 7pm.