HOPEWELL, N.J – Fairfield University Women's Basketball Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis has been named a Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Finalist for the third-straight season. Coach Carly led the Stags to their third-straight MAAC Championship and will be ready to coach in her third-straight NCAA Tournament.

"I'm very thankful to be surrounded by an incredible group of players, coaches, and administrators, who have all taken this program to new heights together," Coach Carly said. "While it's my name that's on the finalist list, this is truly a team effort to make Fairfield an elite women's basketball school. I love where I'm at and who I am surrounded by every day."
 
Coach Carly and the Stags recently completed their 'three-peat' with their third-straight MAAC Championship and Regular Season title. The Stags won all three of their contests in Atlantic City, N.J., including a defensive showcase against top-seeded Quinnipiac in the championship game.
 
Coach Carly and her staff have made the Stags an all-around team who will enter the NCAA Tournament as the nation's leader in 3-pointers made per game with 11.4. Their 364 made triples are tied for the 12th most in NCAA Division I history.
 
On the defensive side, the Stags rank 13th in the country allowing just 55.8 points per game which includes just 51.1 points in conference contests.
 
That success helped the Stags receive a Top-25 national ranking in the Associated Press (AP) Top-25 poll as well as the second-highest position in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll.
 
Fairfield totaled four wins against teams who received votes in this year's national poll including road victories over Villanova and Richmond.
 
Individually, the Stags had three All-MAAC players which brings the total to 10 in the four years under Coach Carly.
 
Kaety L'Amoreaux was named the MAAC Player of the Year, the second Stag to receive that honor during her tenure.
 
Coach Carly and the three-time reigning MAAC Champions will begin their play in the NCAA Tournament next week. The team will find out their opponent during Sunday's Selection Show at 8pm.