FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team showed all the characteristics of a gritty, gutsy, and resilient squad as they rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to grab their first-ever win over the Villanova Wildcats 74-71 in a loud and energetic Leo D. Mahoney Arena. The Stags also had to battle without the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year in Janelle Brown who left the game with the team down nine in the third quarter. The Stags would go on a 10-3 run to end the period and Kendall McGruder's layup gave the team a lead they would not relinquish in the final two minutes.
 
"The team definitely showed resiliency," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "That's something we actually focused a lot on specifically the last few days on our physical and emotional toughness. I think that showed up in the second half particularly in the fourth quarter where we were playing better defense and was more physical in the paint to score. I think our physicality took a turn for the better in the second half and I'm really proud of our leadership down the stretch."
 
Sophomore Road Runner Meghan Andersen led the team with a game-high 22 points including the game's final two free throws with four seconds left.
 
The Stags (6-2) trailed by 12 after Villanova's Bronaugh Power-Cassidy converted a layup to open the scoring in the second half.
 
Fairfield showed their true character at the end of the third quarter with Brown leaving the contest and the Stags trailing 53-44.
 
The Stags would cut that deficit to just two after a pair of Izabela Nicoletti Leite free throws in the final seconds.
 
The Wildcats would open their lead, however, to seven with seven minutes to go before Fairfield's defense locked in and did not allow a Villanova field goal under four seconds left in the contest.
 
Andersen's fast break layup put the Stags down one and back-to-back baskets by McGruder put the Stags ahead by three.
 
Fairfield would hit five of their last six free throws down the stretch to clinch the program's first-ever win over Villanova in 13 tries.
 
Emina Selimovic and McGruder joined Andersen in double-figures by scoring 14 apiece. Coming off a career-high 11 assists without a turnover, point guard Nicoletti Leite dished out four more helpers without a miscue.
 
Fairfield will now hit the road playing another Big East team in St. John's on Sunday at 2pm.