The Fairfield University women's basketball team dropped a 62-56 decision to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) host Siena College this afternoon in Loudonville, N.Y.  The loss drops the Stags to 19-8 on the year and 9-7 in conference play, while the Saints improve to 10-17 overall and 6-11 in league play.

Baendu Lowenthal put the Stags ahead 55-52 with a conventional three-point play with 2:26 remaining in the contest.  It would be the Stags last field goal the remainder of the game as the Saints finished the game on a 10-1 run to earn the win.

Lowenthal finished the game with a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double, shooting 8-14 from the field.  She was 8-10 from the floor in the second half, after not hitting a field goal, 0-4, in the first period.

Free throw shooting was a contributing factor to the Stags loss.  Fairfield shot 7-15 from the line in the contest, and missed the front end of three 1-and-1 opportunities.  Siena was 12-16 from the stripe in the win.

Sabra Wrice was the other Stag to finish in double-figures, scoring 16 points, including 4-8 from behind the three-point line.  Megan Caskin had five points, as well as seven assists and four rebounds.  Joelle Nawrocki scored a career-high five points, hitting 2-2 from the floor and recording an assist and a blocked shot.

The Stags shot 41.2 percent from the field for the game, including 43.3 percent in the second half.  Siena was good on 46.9 percent of its field goal attempts in the game, hitting 14-21 in the second half.

The teams each recorded 32 rebounds in the game, with the Stags holding an 11-7 advantage on the offensive glass.

Laura Menty scored 28 points in the game to pace Siena's effort.  She was 11-13 from the floor and 6-9 at the free throw line.  Shondaya Burrell scored 14 points and had a team-high six rebounds, while Melissa Manzer finished with 11 points, including a 3-5 effort from behind the arc.

The Stags return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 27 as they make up a snowed-out game at Manhattan, with a 7 p.m. tip-off.