FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The three-time defending MAAC Champion Fairfield University Women's Basketball team has announced the signing of 6-4 Road Runner Lana McCarthy who will join the Stags next season. McCarthy spent her first two collegiate seasons at Purdue where she appeared in 56 games with 40 career starts for the Boilermakers.
 
"We are thrilled to add Lana to our Stag family," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "We recruited her out of high school and got to know her and her family well. Not only will she help to elevate us on the court, but we are excited about how she leads and fits into our team chemistry and culture. She will add an interior presence and physicality offensively, as well as an ability to rim protect on the defensive end. Our Fairfield fans will enjoy watching her play!"
 
McCarthy scored nearly 400 points for Purdue, tallying a career-high 210 during her sophomore season. She led Purdue with a .575 field goal percentage which ranked in the top-15 in the Big Ten. She also finished second on the squad in rebounding which featured a career-high 15 boards against Howard. She reached double-figures in 10 games last season which was also highlighted by 19 points against the Bison.
 
During her freshman season, McCarthy started 26 of her 29 games and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after averaging 15 points and 7.5 rebounds in wins over Bellarmine and UT Arlington. She ranked 12th among the Big Ten in freshman scoring and fourth in rebounding.
 
In high school, McCarthy was named New Hampshire Miss Basketball and the MaxPreps Player of the Year. She was a four-time All-State honoree in basketball and volleyball while helping her team to two state championships and four title games. She was a three-year team captain, the first in Bedford High School history and led the Bulldogs to a 71-8 career record. She was also the New Hampshire Volleyball Player of the Year.
 
McCarthy will join a Fairfield team who have won three-straight conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. Fairfield holds an 87-12 record over the last three seasons while amassing one of the best winning percentages in the nation. The Stags have also notched a 67-2 record against MAAC opponents during that span while receiving votes in the Associated Press (AP) Top-25 poll in each season.