FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Fairfield University Women's Basketball team had something bigger than basketball to fight for in the team's annual Play 4 Kay contest and used that motivation to overtake Rider with a 72-46 victory at Leo D. Mahoney Arena. Emina Selimovic led the way with a season-high 17 points on an accurate 7-for-10 from the field. The win improves the Stags' conference record to a perfect 16-0 and is their 39th-straight against MAAC competition, the fourth-longest streak in the country.
 
The Stags (22-3; 16-0 MAAC) enjoyed their best scoring run in the second quarter by rattling off 11-straight points over the final 4:35 to turn a 29-21 lead into a 19-point advantage.
 
"This team is always good for a run somewhere in the game," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "I would like for us to not wait and let it happen in the second and third quarter but credit to Rider. They came out and threw the first punch as far as being really aggressive on the boards and kind of taking it to us from an energy perspective. I thought we steadied the ship and were able to make a run. This team wears on people and we are constantly able to put in fresh bodies and they rely on each other."
 
Fairfield found their shooting touch midway through the second quarter as they connected on three-straight 3-pointers from Selimovic, Kendall McGruder, and Raiana Brown all coming in a one-minute span.
 
While the Stags would then struggle from behind the arc, they found success from inside the 3-point line hitting 58 percent of their 2-point shots. Selimovic led the way shooting with a 7-for-10 showing including going 5-for-6 from 2-point range. Meghan Andersen connected on all her six shots from inside the 3-point arc to finish with 13.
 
Kaety L'Amoreaux led the defensive charge with a game-high four steals, the ninth time she has recorded three or more takeaways in the MAAC slate this season.
 
In total, Fairfield forced 23 turnovers, the 11th time in the 16 MAAC contests they have forced 20 or more. All 16 of their MAAC opponents have had a negative assist-turnover ratio with the Broncs only dishing out six assists.
 
On the offensive side, Izabela Nicoletti Leite led the Stags with seven assists without a turnover, improving her MAAC lead – and her top-10 national ranking – that stood with a 3.00 assist-turnover ratio.
 
The Stags will have a much-needed week off to prepare for their next road trip at Mount St. Mary's on Thursday at 7pm.