FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will travel to New Rochelle, N.Y., to face the MAAC leading Iona Gaels on Thursday night at 7pm on ESPN+. Fairfield comes into the game winners of four of their last five game while the Gaels have been victorious in 12 of their last 13 contests.
The Stags are the only team in the MAAC to defeat the Gaels, as they took a 49-43 decision on Dec. 19.
Callie Cavanaugh and
Janelle Brown led the team with 12 points apiece. Fairfield's defense was at the forefront of the victory as they forced 29 turnovers while swiping 13 steals. The 29 turnovers forced is tied for the most by the Stags this season and their most in any game since a triple overtime game against Iona in 2009.
Fairfield is a different team this time around, and a big reason has been the increased production of the bench. The Stags reserves netted 40 points in their latest win over Rider while outscoring the starting lineup 40-22. The 40 points scored by the bench was the most in a game for the Stags since Feb. 19, 2007 against Siena.
Mackenzie Daleba led the way for the Stags over the Broncs with a career-high 16 points while going 7-for-11 from the floor and dishing out a personal best four assists.
The Fairfield bench increased production has come over the last four games where the reserves are averaging 28.0 points per game while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 43 percent from 3-point range.
Mimi Rubino is leading the group with 11.3 points per game with three double-digit performances. She is also shooting 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from long-range in that stretch.
Kate Peek is shooting 75 percent (6-for-8) from 3-point range off the bench during that stretch, but earned a spot in the starting lineup in the last win against Rider.
Jocelyn Polansky has also logged productive minutes and has connected on three of her four shot attempts from the field.
The Gaels have won 11-straight games since their setback against the Stags, to take sole possession of first place in the MAAC. Juana Camillion is the team's leading scorer at 15.0 points per game. Ketsia Athias is another playmaker on the team with 7.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
Fairfield will return home for a brief stay at the Leo D. Mahoney Arena when they welcome crosstown rivals Quinnipiac on Saturday at 2pm. The women's basketball program will be celebrating their Play 4 Kay contest with proceeds and donations going to benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
