CHARLESTON, S.C. – Fairfield University Women's Basketball sophomore road runner Meghan Andersen erupted for a career-high 32 points while going 6-for-9 from 3-point range as the Stags defeated Charleston Southern 79-36 to open up their Carolina trip. As a team, the Stags connected on a season-high 14 trifectas including nine in the second half.
 
"I'm really proud of our discipline defensively," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "That's something we talked a lot about and I thought that our team took it to heart to keep them out of the paint. I think that spurred some of our offense to run in the open floor. I'm really proud of some individuals, obviously Meg with her career-high and a lot of cool things all-around."
 
The Stags (3-2) rallied for a five-point deficit as they were held off the scoreboard for the first three minutes of the game. Fairfield's defense got the squad back in the contest by holding the Buccaneers scoreless for a seven-minute span, allowing the team to go on an 8-0 run.
 
Along with the defense, it was the offensive game of Andersen as she netted eight of the team's 12 points in the first quarter. Six of those points came off a pair of 3-pointers, including one that beat the first quarter buzzer and gave the Stags a 12-8 lead.
 
Her hot-shooting continued in the second quarter as she went 3-for-5 from deep, netting 15 points in just 10 minutes. In total, Andersen had 23 points while going 5-for-8 from long-range while the rest of the team combined to go 0-for-11 from that range.
 
Andersen would net five quick points to start the second half and would set her new career-high with a jumper with two minutes left in the quarter.
 
The rest of the Stags also found their shooting touch in the second half going 9-for-18 from long-range with seven different Stags connecting on a three. Fairfield doubled up Charleston Southern in the second half, outscoring the home team 48-22.
 
Fairfield reached 70 or more points for the fourth time this season and have now won 21-straight when reaching that mark.
 
Andersen's 32 points ranks in the top-10 in school history for a single game. Izabela Nicoletti-Leite led the team with 10 rebounds and was the biggest playmaker dishing out five assists without a turnover.
 
Fairfield will now travel north to North Carolina and face ACC foe Wake Forest on Wednesday at 2pm.