IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team connected on a program-record 18 3-pointers but it was not enough as the Stags fell to No. 11/14 Iowa 86-72 in Iowa City. Christina Pham led the team with 14 points on an accurate 4-for-5 shooting from behind the arc. Pham was one of three Stags to reach double-figures with Meghan Andersen (13) and Kaety L'Amoreaux (12) following.
 
Fairfield, who entered the game second in the nation with 11.4 made 3-pointers per game, upped that average to 12.5.
 
"I thought our effort was significantly better," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "That's something we challenged our team is to string together more discipline and intense defensive possessions. That led to some easier looks and transition opportunities for our shooters. Against a team liked that you don't get to make many mistakes and they made us pay."
 
The Stags' (4-2) shooting prowess started early helping them to take a first quarter lead that ballooned to as many as 11. Fairfield connected on six of their 11 3-point attempts in the period with five different Stags draining a long-range shot.
 
Fairfield used a 14-2 run to overcome an early 5-0 deficit and turn the score into a 14-7 lead. L'Amoreaux and Jillian Huerter connected on back-to-back threes to give the Stags their first lead. Those pair of triples would begin a stretch of five-straight made 3-pointers with Sydni Scott, Pham, and Brown all connecting on 3s.
 
The Stags would hold a lead until the 6:42 mark of the second quarter where a 6-0 Iowa run capped by a 3-pointer from Taylor Stremlow gave the home team the advantage.
 
Fairfield would get within a single possession towards the end of the half with Cyanne Coe muscling her way in the lane and converting the layup.
 
Fairfield would have a late rally with a 9-2 run in the fourth that featured three-straight 3-pointers with a pair coming from Jillian Huerter. Those trifectas cut the deficit to eight at the 5:38 mark and forced an Iowa timeout.
 
Fairfield shot 69 percent from 3-point range in the final period, making nine of their 13 attempts.
 
Andersen, Brown, Huerter, and Pham all hit at least three 3-pointers with Brown going a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the line. Brown is now shooting 70 percent (7-for-10) from 3-point range this season.
 
The Stags will complete their three-game road swing next weekend, starting with a trip to Howard on Friday at 12 noon.