ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – The two-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Champion Fairfield University Women's Basketball team was unanimously chosen as the conference's preseason favorite and junior Road Runner Meghan Andersen was unanimously tabbed the Preseason Player of the Year in the MAAC Preseason Poll. In total, the Stags had five Preseason All-MAAC selections with Andersen, Janelle Brown, and Kaety L'Amoreaux earning a spot on the Preseason First Team while Cyanne Coe and newcomer Alli Campbell picked up spots on the All-MAAC Third Team.
 
"We are excited about the group we have in our locker room going into this upcoming season," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "We were able to not only retain everyone on our roster who played a minute last year with remaining eligibility, but we have recruited high level talent that add to our depth and versatility, We don't take this recognition lightly and understand the expectation that comes with being the preseason favorite. We will attack this challenge by bringing joy into the gym every day and maximizing every moment and opportunity we have together."
 
The Stags received all 13 first place votes in the poll after winning back-to-back conference championships for the first time in program history. Fairfield has maintained a 59-7 overall record over those two seasons, holding the second-best winning percentage in the country over that span. Against conference opponents, the Stags have tallied a 45-1 mark which includes six-straight tournament wins. That success has put the Stags on the national scale, receiving votes in the Associated Press (AP) Top-25 poll during each campaign.
 
A big reason for the historic success has been the impact of junior Road Runner Meghan Andersen who was unanimously chosen as the Preseason Player of the Year. Andersen has earned All-MAAC First Team selections in each of her first two campaigns while also being recognized nationally on the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watchlist. In her first 66 collegiate games, Andersen has tallied 987 points while connecting on 134 3-pointers.
 
"We are incredibly proud of Meg and thrilled to see her recognized with this honor," Coach Carly said. "She is absolutely deserving of it - not just because of her talent, but because of her hard work, humility, and care for the success of our team over individual awards such as this.  It has been a joy to watch her grow confidently into the woman and leader she is and find her voice as an experienced upperclassman on our team.  We are excited to see all that she will accomplish this season." 
 
L'Amoreaux is coming off another successful season as she earned All-MAAC and All-Met Second Team recognition last year. She tallied a career-best 12.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game while finishing in the top-five in the conference in assists. She was a vital part in Fairfield's MAAC Championship run, connecting on the game-winning reverse layup in the MAAC Semifinals and picking up her second-straight All-Tournament selection.
 
Brown will be returning to the Stags for her sixth-season after suffering a season-ending injury just nine games into the 2024-25 campaign. She helped lead the Stags in their first championship run, earning MAAC Player of the Year laurels and being chosen as the MAAC Tournament MVP. She shot .572 during that campaign, the highest field goal percentage among any guard in the country. She enters her final season with 1,022 career points, 421 rebounds, 296 assists, and 214 steals.
 
Coe made an impact during her first season with the Stags, leading the team with a .682 field goal percentage en-route to a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie team. She had a three-game stretch where she shot 89 percent (24-for-27) while averaging 12.8 points. She also led the MAAC with a .713 field goal percentage in conference games.
 
Campbell begins her first season with the Stags after spending the last three seasons with Penn State. She posted career-highs during her senior season with 211 points, 106 rebounds, and 114 assists. She also ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 4.4 assists per game and ninth in total assists.
 
"Having Kaety, Meg and Nellie all on first team and five different women on the All-MAAC teams speaks to the depth and selflessness in our locker room," Coach Carly said. "I believe we have several others who will have breakout seasons as well! What makes us so dangerous is that we have so many women who can step up at any given time, and I can't wait to see them lift each other up all season long!"
 
Fairfield received all 13 first places votes with Quinnipiac, Mount St. Mary's, and Marist rounding out the top-four. The Stags' 59-7 record over the past two seasons ranks as the second-best winning percentage in the country during that span.
 
The Stags will open their season with a road game against Villanova on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7pm.