The Fairfield University women's basketball team won its second straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) contest Friday night, defeating Rider University 59-43 at Alumni Hall. The win improves the Stags to 12-5 on the year and 2-4 in the MAAC, while the Broncs fall to 5-12 on the year and 0-6 in conference action.

The Stags started slowly on the evening hitting just 5-24 over the first 11:40, and trailed 13-10.  Fairfield found its offensive stride at the point putting together an 18-0 run over the next 3:30, to open a 28-13 lead.  The Stags started the run with five straight field goals made, and hit 7-10 during the run.  Over the last 8:25 of the first half Fairfield allowed Rider to score just three points, limiting the Broncs to 1-8 from the field and forcing nine turnovers.

The Stags led 32-16 at the intermission and pushed the lead to as many as 21 points, twice in the second half, and for the last time, 59-38, with 1:33 to play in the contest.  The teams scored an equal number in the second half, 27-27. 

Both teams committed 19 turnovers in the game, but the Stags shot 39.4 percent, 26-66, from the field, while the Broncs shot 19-57, 33.3 percent.  Both teams connected three times from behind the arc.  Fairfield held a decided edge on the glass, out rebounding Rider, 51-32 for the game and 20-10 on the offensive glass.

The 43 points the Stags allowed in the game is the fewest at home since they held Central Connecticut State to 42 points, Dec. 10, 1999, with a 77-42 home win.  Fairfield gave up only 41 points in a win over Mount St. Mary's earlier this season.

Sabra Wrice led all scorers with 20 points, her seventh 20-point effort of the season.  Stephanie Geehan hauled in a game-best 12 rebounds, while hitting for eight points.  The sophomore also blocked a career-high six shots in the win, equaling the fifth-best single-game effort in program history.

Baendu Lowenthal, who played just 27 minutes in the game, scored 14 points and had eight boards.  Megan Caskin had eight rebounds and six assists, while Meka Werts scored a season-high 11 points.

Tammy Meyers was the lone Bronc in double figures, with 10 points, while Shaunice Parker hauled in 10 rebounds.

The Stags are back in action on Sunday, when they host Loyola College at Alumni Hall at 1 p.m.