Box Score

The Fairfield University women's basketball team outscored #20 Marist College 11-3 in overtime to earn a 73-65 win at the McCann Center, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.  The win, the third straight for the Stags, improves their record to 11-8 overall and 6-2 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play, while the Red Foxes fall to 17-2 on the year and 8-1 in conference action.

The Fairfield victory snapped several long winning streaks, including an 11-game series losing streak.  The Stags last defeated Marist, Feb. 7, 2003, also at the McCann Center, 57-55.  Fairfield snapped Marist's 37-game home MAAC win streak and 35 overall MAAC winning streak, as well as a current 14-game streak.

The Stags scored the first four points of the extra session and did not look back, not allowing a Marist field goal in the extra period.  Stephanie Geehan got the Stags going with a short jumper on the first possession of overtime and then blocked a shot on the other end to get the ball back.  That led to a Shireyll Moore basket and a 66-62 advantage.  Elise Caron cut the deficit to two points, 66-64, with free throws at the 1:43 mark and then Lauren Groom took over.

Groom went 2-2 from the field, with a three-pointer, and 2-2 at the line, in the final 67 seconds to push the Stags to the victory.  Groom went 1-7 from the floor in the first-half, but went 3-5 after halftime, to finish with 14 points.  Geehan was also in double figures, scoring 15 points and six rebounds.

Baendu Lowenthal scored the team's first nine points, and was the team's leading scorer, finishing with 21 points.  She had her second consecutive double-double, pulling down 10 boards, as well as dishing out two assists and recording a steal.

The Stags fell behind by nine points, 28-19 on a lay-up by Elise Caron with 7:43 to play in the first-half.  A Lauren Groom three-pointer 23 seconds later ended a 6-0 run by the Red Foxes, and started a 16-9 half ending run for the Stags, that closed the score to 37-35 Marist at the intermission.

The Stags opened the second half with a 4-0 run, taking their first lead since midway in the first-half, 39-37, 73 seconds into the half.  The teams would tie nine times in the second half, with neither side leading by more than three points, and that was by Fairfield twice.

Fairfield finished the game shooting 44.8 percent from the field, including 4-5 in the extra session.  The Stags hit 6-12 from behind the arc and an impressive 15-16 from the stripe.  The Stags committed just 16 turnovers, while dishing out 19 assists on 26 made field goals.  The Stags out rebounded Marist 39-31 for the game, including a 15-12 advantage on the offensive end. 

Marist went 0-7 from the field in the overtime period, after shooting 66.7 percent from the field in the first-half, and finished at 44.1 percent (26-59).  The Red Foxes were 3-16 from behind the arc and 10-15 from the free throw line.  Marist committed 14 turnovers, with 13 assists.

Megan Caskin had eight assists, four points and four rebounds for the Stags.  Moore finished with eight points and four boards, while Tara Flaherty added five points and three rebounds.  Desiree Pina also had six points and two assists, while Sarah Paulus had an assist and a steal.

The Stags return home on Sunday to host Manhattan at 1 p.m. at Alumni Hall.