She got game

Women’s basketball update: The women are one game away from 20 wins for the season.

That’s right. Fairfield has a women’s basketball team, although – judging from attendance – most students don’t know.

It’s a shame since the team deserves the support of its fellow students. The players and coaches are too polite to say it, but it has to sting a little. In a game earlier this season, Hutch Williams ’08 and 10 students, at most, were sitting in the student section during an on-campus game when the athletic department was giving out a free TV.

This season would mark the first time since the 2000-01 season that the team has won 20 games. That year, the Stags received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament – the only time in Fairfield athletic history a team has done so.

As a freshman last year, I knew men’s basketball was more popular. I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, so I applied to be the women’s basketball beat writer. Turns out I was the only one to apply. Needless to say, I got the job.

There could be a few reasons for the lack of support.

Women’s basketball is boring.

So what if they can’t dunk? Sabra Wrice ’08 has hit some ridiculous shots from way beyond the arc or in traffic in the lane.

No one knows about the games.

I barely know about the free promotions, and I cover the team. Sure, those little pieces of paper on the BCC tables are nice, but they can do better than that. They did do a good job on the Sacred Heart game, but again, that’s only one game in the season.

Coach Cooley doesn’t coach women’s basketball.

Head Coach Joe Frager may not be as vociferous as Cooley, but he won a D-II national championship last season while being named the national coach of the year. I could list all his accomplishments, but they would take up too much space.

Who cares about mid-major basketball?

Marist went to the Sweet Sixteen last year and is currently ranked No. 23 in the nation. And it’s not just the women either. George Mason was a pretty big deal if you remember.

Women don’t play sports.

Yes, I would like to think that I could take a women’s basketball team, but deep down, I know I would probably get embarrassed.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the women have a unique problem. I wish more students would support all sports teams. Nor is this a problem unique to Fairfield; it happens at universities all over the country and even in the movies for anyone who’s seen “Love ‘ Basketball.” But when men’s basketball sells out Alumni Hall and the women get barely any students, there is a double standard.

Here are some good reason to check out the Stags in their remaining games.

Wrice is graduating soon.

The senior will finish in the top 10 for career points scored, and she has continued her success this year, averaging 16.4 points per game.

Lowenthal is approaching 1,000 points.

Baendu Lowenthal ’09 now has 977 points for a chance to become the 22nd player in program history to score 1,000.

They play as a team.

The women have come together off the court as well as on it. Their defense is ranked 30th nationally in scoring defense allowing 56.7 points per game. They are also ranked 26th in the nation in rebounding margin, pulling down an average of 6.3 more boards per game than their opponents.

Fairfield is preparing for a MAAC run.

With a 9-7 conference record, the Stags could secure the third seed. The majority of those conference games have been without leading rebounder and third leading scorer, Steph Geehan ’10, due to illness. If she returns in time, Fairfield could make a tournament run. So, if you have nothing to do during Spring Break, head up to Albany for the MAAC Tournament.