BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team used a 12-0 run to end the third quarter and grinded out through critical moments down the stretch to grab a 64-51 victory at Canisius in recording their 10th-straight win and sole possession of first-place in the MAAC. Meghan Andersen led four Stags in double figures with 12 of those points coming in the second half.
 
"I thought it was good for us to have to gut out a win against a very good team," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "That was something that we reminded our team in the third quarter. We're not always going to be in a 20-point game every game so we have to find ways against really good teams to execute, to play with poise, and play together and I think we did that."
 
For the first time in nearly a month, the Stags (12-1, 4-0 MAAC) trailed in the second half as Canisius' Bri Rozzi put the home side up 37-36 with a jumper at the 4:27 mark. After a Sisi Eleko free throw put the score at 38-36 one minute later, the Stags made their biggest run of the game.
 
Meghan Andersen started the 14-0 run with a 3-point play which was followed by four free throws from Kaety L'Amoreaux. Kendall McGruder would chase down a full court pass and convert the fastbreak layup and Andersen would put the emphasis on the run, swishing through a 3-pointer to put the Stags up 10.
 
Andersen would also rally the first bucket of the fourth quarter to put Fairfield up 50-38, but the Griffs would not go away. Canisius cut the Fairfield lead to five at the 4:21 mark.
 
The Fairfield defense would step up over those last four minutes, not allowing another Canisius point and ending the contest on an 8-0 clip. Janelle Brown tallied four points while Andersen and L'Amoreaux each put in a pair.
 
Andersen led four Stags in double figures as she tallied 19 followed by Brown's 16. Andersen also drew a key charge in the first quarter leading to Canisius' superstar Eleko's third foul in the first six minutes. L'Amoreaux chipped in 12 points while going 7-for-8 from the charity stripe. McGruder had the best shooting night for the team going 3-for-8 from 3-point range to finish with 11.
 
"We stuck together and to beat a good team we have to be connected," Coach Thibault-DuDonis said. "I thought we lost it there a little bit but I'm proud we were able to regain our composure."
 
The Stags will put their winning streak on the line again when they host Iona on Thursday night at 7pm.