Niagara University, N.Y. -  Lauren Groom scored a career-high 26 points, and Baendu Lowenthal added a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double as the Fairfield University women's basketball team defeated Niagara University 76-63 at the Gallagher Center on Sunday.  The Stags sweep their annual Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Western New York swing for the fourth-time in program history and improve to 10-8 overall and 5-2 in the league.  The Purple Eagles fell to 1-17 overall and 0-7 in MAAC action.

Groom shot 8-15 from the field and hit 3-5 from behind the arc as she put up her 26 points.  In addition, she was 7-8 from the free throw line in the game and had six rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.  For Lowenthal it marked her third double-double and fourth 20-point game of the season.  She shot 7-9 from the field and was a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe.  Lowenthal had four assists and a steal in the game as well.

Fairfield led from the outset, taking a 9-1 advantage and not allowing a Niagara field goal until 5:41 into the game, and having built a 16-3 lead.  The Stags led just 32-29 at the half however, as Niagara finished the half with a 26-16 run.  Fairfield started the second half hot from the floor again, and quickly pushed the lead back to double-digits, 54-42 with 12:42 to play.

Niagara answered that run with one of their own, and cut the Stags lead to 60-54 with 7:21 remaining in the contest.  Lowenthal knocked down a pair of free throws with 6:33 to play in the game, jumpstarting an 8-0 Fairfield run, which made the lead to 68-54, with 4:59 to play.  Fairfield would build the advantage to 16 points, 72-56 with 2:17 left in the game and would hit four consecutive free throws, two each from Desiree Pina and Groom, to seal the win.

Fairfield shot 46.4 percent from the field for the game, hitting 26-56 and went 20-24, 83.3 percent, from the stripe in the game.  The Stags out rebounded the Purple Eagles 37-32, with both teams picking up 14 offensive rebounds.  The Stags dished out 18 assists in the game, against only 13 turnovers, while recording eight steals and blocking five shots.

Niagara was led by the 13 points of Jennifer McNamee, who was joined in double-digits by Erika Harris, 11, and Rachele Folino, 10.  The Purple Eagles shot 39.3 percent for the game, hitting 8-17 from behind the arc.  The Purple Eagles committed 14 turnovers, dished out 15 assists, had four steals and two blocks.

Megan Caskin played 34 minutes and finished with seven assists and two turnovers.  She also added two rebounds, two steals and blocked shot.  Pina also scored in double-figures for Fairfield, hitting 4-8 from the field and 4-4 at the line, for 13 points.  Taryn Johnson shot 2-3 from the field for four points in her eight minutes.  She also had four boards, an assist and a steal.

The back-to-back wins is the first for the Stags since defeating Maine on Dec. 21 and Wagner on Dec. 29.  It also marked the 10th time under Joe Frager that the Stags have scored over 70 points, and the third time this season.

The Stags return to action on Friday, Jan. 23, at Marist in a game being televised on ESPNU at 4:30 p.m.  The contest marks the end of the Stags current four-game roadswing.