The Fairfield University women's basketball team gave first-year head coach Joe Frager another successful first; this time a win in his first game at Alumni Hall.  The Stags defeated the University of Maine (1-6) 76-54 on Sunday, improving to 6-1 on the year.

Leading 39-21 at the intermission, Baendu Lowenthal scored early for the Stags, pushing the lead to 20 points.  A Maine turnover on the ensuing inbound pass led to a Sabra Wrice three-pointer, and a 44-21 advantage with 19:30 to play in the game.  Lauren Groom knocked down a three-pointer 70 seconds later to push the lead to 27 and after a defensive stop, Wrice converted a fast break lay-up to go up 50-21.

Lowenthal made the half opening run 13-0 with a runner in the lane at 17:16 and drew the charge 14 seconds later, leading to a nine-footer in the paint and a 54-21 lead with 16:47 to play.  Maine scored its first point of the second half with 16:29 to play, on a pair of Sandra Vaitkute free throws.  The Stags defense did not allow a Maine basket until there was just 15:15 remaining in the game.

Stephanie Geehan finished the game with her third double-double of the year, all in the last five games, with 12 points and 14 rebounds.  She also had three assists, two steals and two blocked shots in the win.

Lowenthal led all scorers with 18 points, while Wrice finished with 16.  Groom finished in double-figures as well, scoring 11 points.  Lowenthal had five boards in just 23 minutes of action, shooting 8-11 from the field

The Stags dished out 20 assists, on 30 made field goals, while committing a season-low 11 turnovers.  Fairfield shot 49.2 percent from the field for the game, including 9-19 from behind the arc. Megan Caskin led the team with five assists.

Fairfield began the game  with the first five points as Geehan struck first just 17 seconds into the game and Wrice knocked down a three-pointer following a steal, and the Stags had a 5-0 lead 58 seconds into the game.  The Stags extended that lead to 13-3 on a Wrice layup with 15:12 to play in the half.

Maine would close to six points several times in the first half, the last at 23-17 with 6:07 left. The Stags would finish the half with a 16-4 run to take the 18-point advantage to the locker room.

The Stags will be off for four-days, their longest stretch since the season began, before starting Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play, Friday at Saint Peter's.  The home portion of the schedule begins on Sunday, Dec. 9, when Marist visits Alumni Hall.