Stephanie Geehan ‘10 with a block during the women’s basketball game against Iona. Peter Caty/The Mirror
Each year the MAAC tournament rolls around with an outside shot at a trip to March Madness on the horizon for the Fairfield men’s and women’s basketball teams. This year, however, the possibility of seeing a Stags basketball team cutting down the nets is even more possible.
The women’s team, led by senior Stephanie Geehan, overcame a shaky start to the season to win seven straight games and earn the third seed in the tournament. The Stags will play No. 6 Loyola on Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Geehan is fourth in rebounds (11.6 per game) and fifth in blocked shots (3.4 per game) in the nation. She is also fifth in double-doubles with 18. Geehan averages 14.5 points per game and was named to the All-MAAC First Team earlier this week, putting her in contention for Player of the Year.
“We had some moments [this season] were we didn’t play as well, but we came together as a team in the end.,” Geehan said. “We’ve been sticking to the game plan more, following what coach wants us to do and knowing what to do. We’ve run our offense better as well.”
The Stags swept Loyola twice this season, beating them by five on the road and three points at home, both in January.
Sophomore Desiree Pina (Third Team) and freshman Katelyn Linney (Rookie team) also earned honors in the MAAC awards.
The team to beat in the MAAC is four-time defending MAAC champions Marist. But the Stags beat Marist earlier this season at home. The Red Foxes are led by three-time player of the year Rachele Fitz.
On the men’s side, the Anthony Johnson-led Stags defeated Iona and Niagara to close out a 20-win season, the first 20-win season since 1995-96 and only the fifth in school history.
Johnson, a senior, averaged 26 points and 17.5 rebounds over the weekend, his last at the Arena at Harbor Yard and earned a spot on the All-MAAC First Team. Leading scorer Derek Needham earned a spot on the All-MAAC Second Team and the Rookie Team.
The Stags will face the winner of No. 7 Canisius and No. 10 Marist on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The Stags defeated both teams twice this season.
“This is a new season for us, the regular season is over. It’s win or go home. I’m very excited to be coaching this group, they are a bunch of fun kids,” head coach Ed Cooley said.
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