FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Women's Basketball Road Runners Emina Selimovic and Meghan Andersen combined for 40 points on 15-for-26 shooting in leading the Stags to a 62-44 victory over Mount St. Mary's in their conference opener. Selimovic led the way with a career-high 21 points while Andersen filled the stat sheet with 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks.
 
"It was definitely a slog," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "I'm proud of how we stayed with it even when the offense was a little ugly and a little bit stagnant. It was a good job by Emina to step up and carry us throughout the game and there's a lot to learn going into Manhattan."
 
Selimovic's career day was started early, tallying 11 points in the first half including seven in the game-deciding second quarter where Fairfield (8-1, 1-0 MAAC) out-scored the Mount 15-2. Selimovic swished through a 3-pointer to extend Fairfield's lead to 19-15 to open up the quarter.
 
She would also hit back-to-back shots in the paint to increase the lead to double-digits later in the quarter.
 
Andersen would find her long-range touch to open up the third quarter, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to give Fairfield their largest lead of the game at 19 at the 7:58 mark.
 
The Mount would cut that deficit to 12 by hitting the final basket of the quarter, but the Fairfield defense held the visiting side without a point for six minutes to seal the victory.
 
Selimovic had her career-high coming off the bench as the Fairfield reserves out-scored the Mountaineers' bench players 25-9. For the season, Fairfield is averaging nearly 25 points per game from their bench, ranking in the top-100 in the nation.
 
"That's going to be us all year long," Coach Thibault-DuDonis said. "That's what we talk a lot to our team about. The value of our depth and there's no pressure that you have to do it all because there's always a teammate with you, behind you, next to you that can help pick you up."
 
The Fairfield defense shined in their conference opening win, holding the Mount to just 44 points on 14 made field goals, with both being season-bests among Division I opponents. Fairfield held the Mount to just two points in the second quarter, the lowest number this year.
 
Fairfield also forced 22 turnovers while tying a season-best with 11 steals.
 
Three different student-athletes tied for the team-lead in rebounds with Andersen, Selimovic, and Janelle Brown all grabbing eight boards. Izabella Nicoletti-Leite led the passing attack with a game-high four assists.
 
Fairfield will have a quick turnaround and turn their attention to Manhattan, hosting the Jaspers on Monday night at 7pm.