FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team used the energy of a sold-out crowd of 3,500 loud and passionate school kids to lock down Manhattan for a 69-44 win over Manhattan at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. With the win, the Stags hold sole possession of first-place in the MAAC with an 8-0 record and improve their overall mark to 14-3.
 
"What an amazing atmosphere to play in from of 3,500 fans. I think we created some new Stags fans today," said Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis. "I'm really proud of how our women carry themselves to be an example and good role models for young boys and girls to see them be great teammates and celebrate one another."
 
The Stags (14-3; 8-0 MAAC) held Manhattan to just one field goal in the second quarter and just seven baskets in the final 30 minutes of the game. Fairfield, who entered the game with the best scoring defense in the conference and 12th-ranked in the nation, allowed just 44 points on a .333 field goal percentage.
 
That defense was the difference after finishing the first quarter trailing by five with a 19-14 score. Fairfield would begin the second quarter on a 13-0 run to quickly take the lead back. Kaety L'Amoreaux, who finished with a game-high 23 points, notched six points during the run including the go-ahead lay-up at the 6:53 mark.
 
The Stags held Manhattan without a field goal for nearly the entire second quarter before Brianna Davis hit a traditional 3-point play in the final second of the quarter.
 
Manhattan would claw back and actually take the lead in the third quarter on another Davis basket. However, that lead would last for just seven seconds before L'Amoreaux beat the defense on a fast break layup.
 
That would be the start of a 20-0 run for the Stags as they connected on seven of their eight shot attempts during the run. L'Amoreaux, again, would play a big part in the run by swishing through a 3-pointer to cap the 20-0 spurt.
 
L'Amoreaux was one of two Stags in double-figures as she was joined by Meghan Andersen's 19.
 
Fairfield will hit the road again on Saturday when they head to Merrimack to play the Warriors for the first time at their home site at 3pm.