Feb. 14, 2000
Women's Basketball (20-6, 12-3 MAAC)
The Stags moved to 20-6 with a 66-55 victory Sunday, the second time in the last three years the Stags have won 20 or more and fifth time ever. The win was also the program's 400th all-time (26-plus years). Fairfield is 12-1 at home this season, which ties the program record for wins at Alumni Hall set by the 1986-87 team that finished 12-1. Junior center Gail Strumpf recorded her nation leading 18th and 19th double-doubles of the season, averaging 23 ppg, 13.5 rpg and 2.5 bpg. She posted game-highs of 24 points and 13 boards in a 65-60 overtime win at Siena and followed it up with game-highs of 22 points and 14 boards against Marist. She became only the seventh player in program history to score 500 points in a season, now with 514. With 14 rebounds vs. Marist, Strumpf moved into a tie for fourth all-time at Fairfield with Trish Elser (795). Freshman forward Schrene Isidora averaged 12.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 2.0 spg. She hit 52.6% from the field and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Isidora reached double-digits in scoring for the 10th and 11th times this season. Her 242 points this year is the most for a Fairfield freshman since Strumpf netted 357 during her rookie campaign in 1997-98. Sunday's game drew 1,012 fans on "Take a Kid to a Game Day."
Men's Basketball (10-13, 8-6 MAAC)
Fairfield lost its second and third overtime games this season, each one by a margin of three points. The Stags have dropped overtime decisions to East Carolina (92-89), Marist (84-81) and Niagara (77-74). Each of the three games were sent into overtime with a three-point basket in the closing seconds, including Andy Buzbee's trey against Niagara on Sunday. Darren Phillip averaged a double-double for the week, registering 19 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. He remains the nation's leading rebounder with a 13.8 average, 1.7 rebounds per game better than Ohio University's Shaun Stonerook. He has recorded a double-double in 13 straight games and in 18 of 23 games. Fairfield finished its non-conference season last week after its game with George Mason. The Stags non-conference opponents currently own a combined record of 130-73, a .640 winning percentage. All but one of their nine non-conference opponents have a winning record, the exception being East Carolina at 9-14. Four of the opponents have 15 wins or more. After shooting just under 60 percent as a team from the free throw line last season, Fairfield owns a team free throw percentage of .710 and has nine players shooting better than 70 percent this season. Last year, only two players owned a free throw percentage over 70 percent. Fairfield is enjoying one of its most prolific MAAC seasons in school history this year, checking into this week with an 8-6 record. Only two other Fairfield teams have won more MAAC games than this year's bunch, namely the 1985-86 team (13-1 MAAC, 24-7 overall) and the 1995-96 squad (10-4 MAAC, 20-10 overall).
Hockey (3-22-3, 3-16-2 MAAC)
Rae Metz set the MAAC single-game point record with seven (2G, 5A) at Holy Cross Friday. It's also the most points in a game in Division I hockey this season. The five assists tied the MAAC regular-season single-game record. Metz scored a goal in Saturday's action, giving him eight points for the weekend. He has 16-19-35, eight points away from the Fairfield freshman scoring record of 43, set by Rich Bowler in 1974-75, the first year of varsity hockey. His 35 points is the third highest total for a Fairfield freshman in school history. Metz ranks fifth in the MAAC in scoring and first in freshman scoring. Steve Calderara tallied a hat trick and an assist Friday night and collected an assist Saturday night. He now has 8-15-23, the most points for a Fairfield defenseman since Kevin Ryan had 30 in 1996-97. Calderara leads all MAAC defenseman in goals (8) and is tied for second in defenseman scoring. Friday night's 9-6 win was the Stags' first victory at Holy Cross since a 7-6 triumph during the 1993-94 campaign. The nine goals was the Stags' highest scoring output since an 11-5 win at Wentworth in 1998.
