The Fairfield University Women’s Basketball team started their season strong with a 58-40 win in Virginia against the University of Richmond on Nov. 9. This was Fairfield’s first victory against Richmond in over 11 years. No.13 Khadidiatou Diouf ‘19 lead the Stags in points scored with 17 and nine rebounds in her first game as a redshirt senior. Trailing shortly behind was No. 30 Sam Lewis ‘21 with 11 points. Lewis beat the Spiders to the board and tallied Fairfield’s premiering five points with a back-to-back jump shot combined with a three-pointer. Lewis also set a new personal record of eight points in the first four minutes of play in the game. Fairfield University was able to complete the opening 10-minute quarter leading Richmond by eight, leaving the score at 19-11.
Once again, Fairfield established a score before their adversaries as the second quarter came to a start. They would continue to kick off scoring first in three of the four quarters. Stag No. 15, Katie Armstrong ‘20, was instrumental in the second for Fairfield. She gave her team the biggest lead thus far, 11 points with four minutes 49 seconds left in the second quarter, which Diouf matched again with three minutes and 33 seconds left before halftime as the score stood 28-17. Diouf had eight field goals made of her 12 field goal attempts. Armstrong, a transfer student, had led St. Joseph University’s in appearances (17), points (27), rebounds (11), assists (five), steals (one) and blocks (one) during her first-year and certainly brought her talent and stamina to Connecticut this season.
The final eight points of the half for Richmond were credited to Alex Parson, the last of which was a three pointer off of a fast break. The preseason All-Atlantic-10 guard finished the scoring and the game continued on to the second half with Fairfield still in the lead, 30-25. No. 14 Stag Casey Foley ‘19 racked up three three-pointers in five three point attempts during her first game as a senior and aggregated 34 minutes played in total. Both of these feats were unmatched by any other Stag on Nov. 9.
Fairfield scored the first 14 points during the second half and asserted their dominance after lessening their lead to only five points late in the second quarter. Diouf was contributory in this streak, claiming eight of the 14 points. Emma Squires of Richmond terminated Fairfield’s streak, starting Richmond’s scoring late with a bucket at the four minute 25 second mark of the third. No. 2 Sam Kramer ‘20 landed a good layup in the paint, and secured a whopping 23 point lead, leaving just one minute 52 seconds in the third. Fairfield’s outpace contributed to their momentum and began to visibly wear on their opponents. Thirty minutes came to a close and left Richmond with just 10 remaining minutes of play to make up for a 22 point shortfall. The score was 55-33.
Only five baskets were made in the fourth quarter and Richmond did not stand a chance. Fairfield University’s defensive vehemence led them to victory as the score was
cemented at 58-40. Fairfield’s successful start to the campaign was an accomplishment that Stag Country hopes they can uphold as the team continues their season back at home against LIU Brooklyn on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
Leave a Reply