FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team started the 2024-25 season with an emphatic 81-67 victory on the road against SEC member Arkansas, marking the program's first-ever win over a SEC school. Three Stags reached double-figures in the victory, led by Kaety L'Amoreaux who dropped 18 points and Meghan Andersen who poured in 17 on 7-for-12 shooting.
 
"It feels great," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "We've been thinking about it since we lost at the end of the year last year and we wanted to come back even better. I thought our team came out ready to go and set the tone early and wore them down. Our depth played a factor in wearing them and I'm proud how we kept fresh bodies in and kept going."
 
The Stags (1-0) led for the final 33 minutes of the game and ran their advantage to as many as 24 points in the third quarter. Janelle Brown would give the Stags the lead as her fastbreak layup put the score at 15-14 in the first quarter.
 
Fairfield shot 65 percent in the first half including a 62 percent clip from long-range. The Stags went on a quick 9-0 run early in the second quarter which featured buckets from Andersen, L'Amoreaux, and Emina Selimovic. An Andersen 3-pointer capped the run and forced an Arkansas timeout.
 
Fairfield ran their lead to 20 points in the first half with an Izabela Nicoletti-Leite layup.
 
The Stags showed their newfound depth with 11 different players getting into the scoring column including: Sydni Scott, Jillian Huerter, Cyanne Coe, and Raiana Brown all scoring their first points with the Stags.
 
Fairfield also had a tremendous defensive showing with eight steals, led by Janelle Brown's three. They also held Arkansas to a 38 percent shooting clip and out-scored the Razorbacks 40-24 in the paint.
 
Finally, the Stags dished out 21 assists on their 33 made baskets while committing just 12 turnovers.
 
Over the past two years, the Stags now have wins against the: SEC, Big 12, Big East, and Atlantic 10.
 
Fairfield will have nearly a week to prepare for their home opener when they welcome Richmond to Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7pm. Before the contest, the Stags will celebrate their MAAC Championship season with a banner unveiling and ring ceremony.