ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will begin the defense of their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title when they take on the fourth-seeded Siena Saints on Thursday at 3:30pm at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The contest will be the 16th meeting between the two schools in the tournament, the most by any Fairfield opponent.
 
The Stags earned the fifth-seed in the conference after posting an 11-9 conference record. Fairfield has been led all season by their two All-MAAC players in Callie Cavanuagh and Janelle Brown. Cavanaugh was named one of the best players in the conference with her All-MAAC First Team selection. Brown saw her name on an All-MAAC team for the first time in her career as she earned All-MAAC Third Team honors.
 
Cavanaugh has been the Stags' leading scorer all season after dropping a career-high 36 points at Brown in the season opener. She leads the conference with 188 made field goals and ranks third in the MAAC in scoring (15.9 per game) and field goal percentage (.422).
 
Brown has been the spark plug for the team all season long with her energy on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. She is ranked in the top-15 in the MAAC in: scoring (11.8), rebounding (6.1), and assists (2.7). After logging just 11.5 minutes last season, Brown saw action in 27.6 minutes per game and nearly tripled her previous career-high by scoring 329 points so far this year.
 
Fairfield will enter the tournament winners of two of their last three games where they have made a total of 21 3-pointers during that stretch. Kate Peek has been the difference maker in the second half of the conference season, hitting 28 3-pointers at a 45 percent clip during the last nine games.
 
Siena defeated the Stags both times during the regular season, most recently a 55-51 decision at the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. Anajah Brown is the team leader in: points (11.1 per game), rebounds (8.0), and blocks (41).
 
The Stags will be looking to advance to the Semifinals for the 34th time in 42 years. The winner of the contest will face top-seeded Iona on Friday at 11am.