FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team will welcome over 1,000 local elementary school kids to the Leo D. Mahoney Arena as they host Marist at 11am in the annual Kids Day Out contest. The local school kids will be represented from over seven different schools in the nearby Fairfield and Bridgeport school districts. Admission is free for all fans.
On the court, the Stags will be looking for their 20th win on the season, and their 18th-straight.
In their last time out, the Stags broke a nearly 50-year old program record by winning their 17th game in-a-row by hitting 14 3-pointers in an 85-49 win at Iona. The Stags had their most accurate shooting night overall, with a season-best .566 field goal percentage while tying for a season-high with 14 3-pointers.
It was the seventh time this season the Stags have shot over 50 percent in a game and the 15th time they have reached the 45 percent mark. For the season, the Stags lead the MAAC and rank 16th in the nation with a .473 shooting percentage.
While the offensive numbers jump out on the box score, it was the Fairfield stifling defense that dictated the game. The Stags did not allow an Iona point for the first eight minutes of the game while starting the contest on a 20-0 run. It is the 14th time this season that the Stags have held their opponent under 40 percent shooting.
Defensively, Fairfield leads the MAAC while ranking fourth nationally in scoring defense (53.4) and sixth in opponent field goal percentage (.343).
With that success, the Stags have received more national attention, reaching 21 points in the most recent AP Top-25 poll and eight in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Fairfield also moved up one spot to No. 8 in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll.
Marist enters the game with a 5-15 overall record and a 3-7 mark in MAAC play. Zaria Shazer is the team leading scorer (15.2) and rebounder (8.7).
Fairfield will have a quick turnaround and host Saint Peter's on Saturday at 2pm as the program celebrates Black Excellence during the contest.
