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The Stags will look to avenge two straight losses to the Purple Eagles during the regular season, something that Niagara had not done in over 10 years. Fairfield will be seeking a trip to the MAAC Semifinals for the first time since 2012.
Fairfield is coming off its second-straight victory after defeating the Manhattan College Jaspers, 72-54, on the road.
For the seventh time this season, four Stags scored in double figures (the Stags are 6-1 in those games). Fairfield was led by Samantha Cooper’s 16-points as she tied a career-high four 3-pointers (tied with the first game this season). Casey Smith shot 70 percent in the game with 14 points, Kristin Schatzlein had her third-straight 14 point performance and Kelsey Carey rounded out the foursome with 14 points of her own (10 in the second half). The last five times the Stags have reached the MAAC Final round they had won the final game of the regular season. The Stags clinched the number three seed in the MAAC Tournament for the third-straight season and the 11th time in program history. Fairfield has a record of 11-9 as the third seed in the tournament, winning the championship in 1988.
Smith and Schatzlein were both named to the All-MAAC Third Team by the leagues coaches for the first time in their career. The duo averaged 24 of the teams’ points per game this season.Schatzlein has been the go-to player for the Stags this season and netted her 800th career point in the recent win against Manhattan. Smith has won six MAAC Rookie of the Week honors which ties a program record. Smith was also named to the All-MAAC Rookie team, becoming the first player in program history named to two All-MAAC squads.
If Fairfield wins, they will advance to the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament and play the winner of No. 2 Marist and No. 10 Saint Peter’s on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
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