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The women’s basketball team scored a major conference victory after beating’ No. 20 Marist, 73-65 in overtime.
Marist entered the game against Fairfield riding high. The Red Foxes boasted a 17-1 overall record, including a perfect 8-0 in the MAAC. Their one loss? To No. 3 Oklahoma. Marist had won 37 straight MAAC games at home and had beaten Fairfield 11 straight times.
Early on, it looked like those streaks might continue. Marist took a nine-point lead with 7:43 left to play in the first half. But senior Lauren Groom’s three-pointer cut the lead to six and the Stags went into the half down only two, 37-35. Senior Baendu Lowenthal also carried the Stags in the beginning of the game, scoring Fairfield’s first nine points of the game. Lowenthal finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
The Stags open the second half with two straight baskets, taking a two point lead. But neither team pulled away as there were nine ties in the second half. Groom layed the ball in with 1:24 left in the game to send the game into overtime at 62-62.
Junior Stephanie Geehan started the overtime period with a jumper and then blocked a shot on the other end to help give the Stags a lead which they would not relinquish.
Fairfield’s defense buckled down after allowing Marist to shoot 66 percent from the field in the first half. The Red Foxes shot 36 percent in the second half and did not score a field goal in overtime.
Fairfield is now 11-8 overall and 6-2 in the MAAC. The Stags are now in third place, a half-game behind Canisius, 7-2, which Fairfield beat last weekend. Marist remains in first place.
The Stags return to Alumni Hall on Sunday to face Manhattan at 1 p.m. The Jaspers are 6-12 overall and 3-4 in the MAAC.
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