2005 MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals: Fairfield beats Siena 66-65 in overtime after the Saints overcome a seven-point halftime deficit. 2006 MAAC Tournament First Round: Fairfield beats Siena 60-59 in overtime after the Stags rally from a 16-point halftime deficit. 2007 MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals: Siena beats Fairfield 56-55 on an off-balance three-pointer with four seconds left. 20008 MAAC Tournament Quarterfinals: No. 3 Fairfield vs. No. 6 Siena.
For the fourth straight season, women’s basketball will meet Siena (11-17 overall, 7-11 MAAC) in the conference tournament. The previous three games were all decided by one point.
Fairfield (21-8 overall, 11-7 MAAC) tied Iona for the second-best MAAC record, but lost the tiebreaker as the Gaels defeated the Stags twice this season, both in close games. Now the Stags will face the sixth-seeded Siena, which Fairfield beat by three at home and lost to by six on the road earlier this season.
“I thought we played well today [in a win over Loyola],” said Head Coach Joe Frager. “These girls have accomplished a lot. I hope they play well in the tournament.”
If the Stags hope to survive the quarterfinals, they will have to contain Siena’s Laura Menty. She has been able to score at will against the Stags, dropping in 31 in the first game and 28 in the second. In total, she made 21 of her 25 shots against Fairfield. Menty also leads the MAAC in scoring, averaging 19.4 points per game.
However, Stephanie Geehan ’10, who could help contain Menty, was out with an illness for both games against the Saints. She has returned and played limited minutes in the past two games.
“It’s a delicate balance,” said Frager. “When you change your rotation, it takes time to adjust.”
He added that Geehan might not be fully recovered for the rest of the season.
If the Stags beat Siena, less than 24 hours later they will face the winner of a game against No. 2 Iona and No. 7 Loyola or No. 10 Rider.
“It’s tough,” said Frager. “It’s not the teams in the best physical shape, but that have mental toughness as well. Teams that execute and are mentally tougher will advance.”
The Stags’ season ended on a high note and Fairfield is optimistic for its chances in the Tournament.
“If we play the way we played today, yes we are ready,” said Lowenthal after a win over Loyola.
The women’s basketball team reached several team and individual milestones in its final regular season game, a 60-43 win over Loyola on the road.
The win gave Fairfield its 21st of the season, tied for the fifth highest total in program history.
Baendu Lowenthal ’09, who finished with 15 points for the game, helped Fairfield to the win and in the process scored her 1,000th career point. She is only the 22nd player to reach the millennium mark.
“It was [on my mind],” said Lowenthal. “I was very excited; my family and friends came down to watch me play.”
Lowenthal found success despite opponents focusing on stopping her this season. She has averaged 14.7 points per game while pulling down 7.8 rebounds per game. For her efforts, MAAC coaches selected Lowenthal as an All-MAAC Second Team player.
“It is hard [to score] when you are being double and triple-teamed,” said Lowenthal. “But you just have to fight through it.”
She joins Sabra Wrice ’08 in the 1,000-point club. Wrice has scored 1,552 points, eighth all-time in the program. Wrice also scored her 1,000th point as a junior and has sustained her success during her senior year. She has averaged 16.4 points per game along with 2.2 steals per game. For the second straight year, she was selected as an All-MAAC First Team player and a candidate for MAAC Player of the Year.
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