For the fifth consecutive year, the women’s basketball will meet Siena in the opening round of the MAAC Conference Tournament.
Fairfield finished in third place during the regular season with a 12-6 league record while the Saints earned the sixth seed with a 9-9 conference record. The teams meet twice in the regular season with the Stags winning both games.
The first game was in the midst of the Stags’ eight-game winning streak and Fairfield rolled to a 73-47 victory.
The second game was Fairfield’s last win as the Stags went 1-4 to close out the season with losses to Marist, Canisius, Rider and Manhattan. In the middle of those games, Fairfield held off Siena to win 68-57 in Albany.
‘Anytime you have to play a team a third time and you’ve already beaten them twice and played well, you worry as a coach, can we play well again?’ said head coach Joe Frager. ‘More than anything, i just want us to play as a team like we are capable of playing.’
When Fairfield played Marist and Canisius for the second time, the Stags were battling for a potential MAAC Regular Season Championship. However, after tough losses to both, Fairfield ended the season on a down note.
‘I think that we just tried to remind the players of what made us good,’ said Frager.’We communicated well on defense, we had everybody on the same pagae, we weren’t turning the ball over, and everybody was looking for their shot.’
The Stags have the ability to beat the top teams in the MAAC as they upset No. 20 Marist and also beat second-place Canisius on the Griff’s home court.
‘I still think there is a gap between Marist and everyone else,’ said Frager. ‘Canisius is close than everyone else. I think the three most talented teams in terms of firepower are Marist Canisius and Iona, then you’d have to put us four. We need a collective team effort.’
What the Stags need to do to win:
The seniors need to step up: For Baendu Lowenthal, Lauren Groom, Megan Caskin and Shireyll Moore, this will be their last chance to get to the NCAA Tournament. All four are significant contributors and will need to continue to play well. They also need to help lead their teammates through a potentially tough stretch of games. If the Stags want to make the finals, they will play three games in three days and possibly play No. 2 Canisius and No. 1 Marist. But first, they need to concentrate on Siena.
Limit turnovers and bad possessions: It sounds obvious, but the Stags can’t afford to give possessions away. They play much better when they run their offense efficiently, but then again, who doesn’t?
Get a perimeter and inside game going: Fairfield can’t rely on just Lowenthal for scoring. Groom, Moore and freshman Desiree Pina will need to hit some outside shots to keep space in the lane and to provide a boost if Lowenthal gets in foul trouble. Marist head coach Brian Giorgis, after a win against the Stags, said that Groom’s play elevates Fairfield to a title contender. Fairfield will need her and others to hit some outside shots.
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