The Lady Stags are looking at one of the toughest schedules that they have played in years.
In early November the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association released its preseason strength of schedule rankings, a ranking system based upon the quality of teams each NCAA Division I team faces during its season.
Fairfield was ranked twenty-eighth in the nation in their non-conference strength of schedule. There are 328 teams in Division I basketball.
The Stags play teams that had a combined .604 winning percentage last year. The overall record of their opponents was 154-101.
“This schedule challenges us early for MAAC play, and would give us a better chance to get into the NCAA tournament if we get that far,” said head coach Dianne Nolan.
They have the hardest non-conference schedule of any team in the MAAC. Fairfield has already played top non-conference games such as Villanova, Vermont, Harvard and Dartmouth.
Villanova was the hardest team on the schedule this year, ranked eighth in strength of schedule. Their opponents had a record of 217-119 (.646). The Wildcats clawed the Stags 72-57 at the Arena at Harbor Yard back on Nov. 23.
The next closest MAAC team to the Stags in non-conference schedule is Manhattan with a 116 ranking.
This season Fairfield is 2-4 and 1-3 against their non-conference opponents. The only win came against Vermont, 71-62.
The next five games for the women will be against non-conference teams. This includes their second toughest non-conference game all year, which is against Miami.
The women will travel down to Coral Gables, Florida to play Miami, Hofstra and Loyola-Marymount.
These are three of the top five toughest games for the Stags.
Before that trip they will play Hartford University and when they return Yale will be waiting.
This is a five game non-conference stretch right before they hit their conference schedule.
Not only do the Stags have the top non-conference schedule out of any team in the MAAC, but they also have the toughest overall schedule. Opponents had a 406-371 record with a .523 percentage.
Their conference schedule is 104 in the nation and is above any other MAAC team.
Rider and Iona are the second and third overall ranked strength of schedules in the MAAC. Rider is second to Fairfield with a 129 ranking and Iona has a 144 ranking.
The MAAC has a specific policy that every team in the conference must play at least two top 100 teams, two top 150 teams and one top 200 team.
This gives the MAAC the tenth hardest scheduled conference in the country.
The Stags have already played two conference games. In their first game they sent St. Peter’s flying, 94-72.
Fairfield then lost its next game to the Manhattan, 83-68 at the Arena. In this game Janelle McManus ’05 scored her 1,000 career point when she scored fifteen points.
McManus was named the first ever WBWA player of the week last week.
“Janelle is a well-respected, dangerous player, with a great mind for the game and makes other players around her better,” said Nolan.
Coach Nolan has already signed four letters of national intent for recruits for next year’s squad. The strength of schedule seems to be a strong persuasion for players interested in coming to Fairfield.
“Our strength of schedule is a big factor in finding recruits. They want to play against good competition,” said Nolan.
The Stags schedule will get easier after their trip to Florida as they will play Yale and the rest of their conference schedule.
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