The Fairfield University women's basketball team won its fourth straight game, defeating Rider University 69-59 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).  The win improves the Stags to 14-5 overall and 4-4 in the league, while the Broncs fall to 5-14 on the year and 0-8 in league play.

In the second matchup in as many Fridays with the Broncs saw a different start for the Stags.  At home last week, Fairfield opened the game hitting just 5-26 from the field over the first 12 minutes, and trailed 13-10, before and 18-0 put them on top for good.  This week the Stags started the game hot from the field, hitting 6-7 to start, building an early 18-6 lead.

Fairfield led by double-digits from the 14:05 mark of the first half until Amanda Sepulveda drained a three-pointer for Rider with 5:41 to play in the game to close the deficit to single digits, 58-49.  The Stags turned the ball over on their next possession, but Baendu Lowenthal came up with a steal on the defensive end.  She ran the break, missed her lay-up, but got the rebound and scored to push the lead back to 11.  Sabra Wrice stole the Broncs inbound pass and was fouled, hitting both of her free throws.  Tara Flaherty rebounded a Sepulvada three-point attempt the next time down the floor and fed the ball down court to Wrice.  Flaherty hustled down the floor behind the play and was found open in the paint by Megan Caskin, to complete the 6-0 run, and with a 15-point lead, 64-49, with 4:31 to play.

Rider responded with an 8-1 run to get within eight points again, 65-57, with 1:26 to play as Shaunice Parker scored six straight points and Tammy Meyers drained a free-throw.  Flaherty put home a lay-up with 58 seconds to play and Caskin knocked down a pair of free throws with 38 seconds left to put the game away.

Lowenthal had her third double-double of the season, leading the Stags with 15 points and 10 rebounds.  She shot 6-10 from the field and 3-5 at the line with a pair of assists and two steals.  Wrice also had 15 points in the game, as well as six rebounds, four steals and three assists.  Lauren Groom had a season-high 14 points in the Stags win, shooting 6-8 from the field, with a 2-2 effort from behind the arc.

Caskin had 10 assists for the second time in her career, and the second time in four games.  She added three points, five rebounds and two steals in playing 40 minutes.  Flaherty finished with eight points and four rebounds, as eight Stags scored two or more points.

Fairfield began the second half with a second chance basket, which jumpstarted a 7-0 run, to open a 43-24 lead with 18:09 to play. That 19-point lead would be the largest lead of the game for the Stags.

The Stags shot 50 percent from the field, 25-50, for the game, including 52.2 percent in the first half.  Fairfield was also good at the line, going 14-19 in the contest, 73.7 percent.  The Stags also out rebounded the Broncs 33-31 for the game.  Rider shot 37.5 percent from the field, 18-48, with an 8-19 effort from behind the arc.

Rider was led by the 16-point effort of Janele Henderson, who was 7-8 from the free throw line.  Meyers finished with 15 points and Stephanie Wisniewski had 11. Parker, who had eight points, led the Broncs with seven rebounds.

The Stags return to action on Sunday, hosting Iona College at the Arena at Harbor Yard at 3:30 p.m., the first of three-straight home games.