FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will close out their quick home stand when they welcome the Canisius Golden Griffs on Saturday at 2pm. The Stags enter the contest winners of two-straight and in a three-place tie for third place in the MAAC. The contest can be watched live on ESPN+.
 
The Stags are coming off another close victory as they pulled out a 54-53 win over Mount St. Mary's on Thursday night. The win capped off a crazy last 1.4 seconds of the game that featured a turnover, a technical foul, and five made free throws.
 
After turning the ball over with 0.7 seconds left, Mount St. Mary's was able to get a final shot off but Michaela Harrison's 3-pointer was off the mark. However, a foul was called on the play, setting up three free throws in a game that the Stags led by two. Thinking there was no foul called, the Mount St. Mary's bench was assessed a technical which also set up two free throw responses for the Stags.
 
Harrison would connect on all three of her free throws, setting up the dramatic stage for Izabela Nicoletti Leite who calmly responded by hitting both of the technical free throws for the 54-53 win. Nicoletti Leite would finish with nine points and team-high with 11 rebounds and six assists.
 
The Stags held all the momentum heading into the final quarter after posting a 15-0 run to close out the third. Kate Peek was instrumental in the stretch by going 3-for-3 from behind the arc. Mackenzie Daleba capped the run by grabbing her own offensive rebound and converting the second chance bucket to beat the third quarter buzzer.
 
Fairfield saw that 10-point lead dwindle away until the final minute when Janelle Brown also grabbed an offensive rebound and swished through the jumper to give the Stags a two-point lead with 16 seconds left.
 
The close games have been a them for the Stags over the last few contests. In four of the last five games, the Stags have been tied in the final seconds. Fairfield also held a two-point lead over Niagara with 0.9 seconds and also held an advantage against Siena with nine seconds left.
 
The Stags have led in the fourth quarter in nine of 10 MAAC games.
 
Canisius enters with a 3-7 record in the MAAC after dropping five-straight contests. Dani Haskell leads the team 12.8 points per game and 34 made 3-point field goals.
 
Fairfield will open the month of February on the road at Manhattan on Thursday night at 7pm.