Women's Basketball falls to 3-3

The Fairfield University women’s basketball team is the second best defensive unit in the nation allowing only 48.4 points per game. That’s only 0.1 PPG behind West Virginia for the national top spot and nearly an entire point better than #2 UCONN! “It has to be a consistent force,” coach Frager said. “More often than not is has been. The kids have done a tremendous job trying to do what we’ve asked.” The squad has held nine opponents to 50 points or fewer in their first 16 games and excluding an 89 point struggle against Hofstra, the Stags limit foes to 45.7 per contest.

However, as enticing as all those defensive statistics sound they have not translated into wins of late. Fairfield dropped their third straight game on Sunday to fall to 3-3 in MAAC play and 10-6 overall. “It’s really hard to take it in,” junior Desiree Pina said. “especially because it’s our third straight loss. It’s frustrating.”

That record would suggest mediocrity. While the Stags are lighting up the defensive side of the court, through the last three games their offense has been dim. In those contests they are shooting 35 percent from the floor including going 15 for 69 from behind the arc, barely good for a 22 percentage. “There’s definitely concerns. As must as we’ve struggled scoring it in terms of shooting the ball, I think we’ve turned the ball over an uncharacteristic amount,” Frager said. “We’re talking about the unforced turnovers where the mistake is simply ours where we’re either dribbling the ball off our toe, forcing the pass that’s not there. Sometimes when you struggle shooting the ball a little bit you try to start forcing things on offense and I think that’s where we’re at right now.”

The advantage of playing an 18 game schedule is that it affords a team to improve during each game. For that reason, this slide might have some benefits for the Stags. As a young team, the inexperienced players have a chance to get the offense spark needed in close games. “We have to learn from this. We have to come into the gym on Tuesday and be very positive,” Frager said. Over the road trip the team saw contributions from freshmen who have not been afforded that opportunity. Alexys Vazquez and Katie Cizynski saw more playing time, with Cizynksi scoring a career high 12 points and grabbed a personal best 6 rebounds in only 14 minutes, which almost ignited a 12 point comeback on Sunday.

The Stags know if their offense gets that one hot streak, combined with their offense prowess it can help propel a team to the championship. “In MAAC play there’s not a heck of a lot that separates the teams so there’s not a big margin for error,” the head coach said.

They are now in fifth place in the conference with 12 games yet to play. Last year they were in ninth through 10 games. But they found that magic and found themselves playing for the crown. This year they hope to find that same magical spark, and Frager saw some of it in the Manhattan game, “I thought the effort to get back in the game when we were down twelve was outstanding. I thought we showed tremendous heart.”

33 percent of the MAAC season is in the books, and with a few breaks and easy layups the Stags could believably be 5-1 or even 6-0. “If you looked at the schedule ahead of time, you would probably think we’d be anywhere from 2 to 4 wins at this point, I think we have a shot to be 5-1 and we put ourselves in that position so it’s a little bit frustrating,” Frager said. “3-3 is certainly not the end of the world.”

“What I noticed about our team is that when we’re down we never give up. You could see that last year when we went on that nine game winning streak, but also we’ve been down a lot of time and we’ve always continued to fight back,” Pina said. “We just need to keep a lot of optimism.”
The Stags will try to get back to their winning ways this weekend as they welcome Canisius and Niagara to campus. The Stags swept these two teams on the road and Frager knows how important these games are, “We need to win our home games,” he said. A couple of wins and going over .500 can really add a sense of confidence to this young team.

Loyola 54 Fairfield 52

The Fairfield University women's basketball team (10-5, 3-2 MAAC) was edged by the Loyola Greyhounds (7-9, 4-1 MAAC). Click for a complete recap and boxscore.

The Least You Should Know:
-The shooting of the Stags continue to struggle as they went only 4-15 from behind the arc and could not hit a lay up throughout the game, but especially during crunch time as they missed many close baskets today.

-Taryn Johnson had a game high 19 points but only had 5 rebounds. Once again Brittany MacFarlane picked up the slack pulling down 12 boards (the only one in the game to have double digit rebounds)

-Fairfield did do a good job at staying in the game as they did not lead at any point from 17 minutes on and trailed as much as 9 points. They missed 2 layups that would have tied the game and also could no get a rebound.

Ugly loss to say the least. The defense of the Stags really struggled as the Greyhounds seemed to be able to score at will. Maybe it was because of their size as we were all ready for their lack of size to finally bite them at the end of the game. They were giving up easy layups and really gave up multiple runs that I have not seen this year. Plenty of time their defense tried to make them lose this game.

The shooting really needs to get better. They only shot 4-10 from the free throw line which is not going to get it done in the Division 1 level. Johnson who seemed to have turned the corner from the charity stripe only went 1-4 and seems to have taken a step back once again. Inside players such as Vetra and MacFarlane went a combined 3-17 from the floor while Linney went 2-6 from three.

I have heard that ESPN U made us look real bad during the telecast. We deserved it to be honest. You have to be able to hit a lay up and free throws at this level.

Player of the Game: Taryn Johnson for her 19 points and 9-18 from the floor. Even though she did miss some layups which should have given her more points.

Up Next: The Stags return home to play Manhattan on 1/16 starting at 1:00.

Siena 54 Fairfield 46

The Fairfield University women's basketball team (10-4, 3-1 MAAC) ended their six game winning streak losing to the Siena Saints (6,8 4-0 MAAC) on the road. Click for a complete recap and boxscore.

The Least You Should Know:
-The Stag's six game winning streak came to an end, while the Saints improved theirs to five straight.

-The Stags did not got many breaks in this game and Joe Frager said they had "two to three mental lapses" on defense in the first half and the team has not played in a game like this. He admitted that the squad made some silly mistake and were "panicky"

-Brittany MacFarlane was the lone standout and she recorded a double-double including a career high 13 rebounds.

-Desiree Pina shot 2-11 from the floor and 0-3 from behind the arc. Katelyn Linney was 4-16 and 3-14 from three while Joelle Nawrocki was 1-4 from long distance. The team total was 6-29 from three.

I agree with Frager, this was really one of the first times that the team played in a game that was not a blow out. They had to learn how to control the ball in a way that they were able to get an open shot. The team did not take advantage of their offense as it seemed everybody had an off day. The game would have been out of control if MacFarlane did not step up when Taryn Johnson was on the bench with foul trouble. Siena does deserve credit as they kept their composure and actually made their free throws.

Player of the Game: Brittany MacFarlane really showed something today.

Up Next: The Stags travel to Loyola on 1/14 at 4:30.

Fairfield 68 Niagara 38

The Fairfield University women's basketball team (9-3, 2-0 MAAC) won their fifth straight decision as they defeated the Niagara Purple Eagles (1-12, 0-2 MAAC). Click for a complete recap and boxscore.

The Least You Should Know:
- Katelyn Linney had 27 points as she went 5-7 from behind the arc and 10-14 from the floor.

- The team used three runs to take control of the game. The squad had seperate runs of 19-0, 13-0, and finally 14-0 to conclude the game.

- They entered the game third in the nation in scorind defense and their average will decrease after the game.

- They have swept the Western New York portion of their schedule for the second consecutive year.

It was a good effort for the Stags but this could have been the only opponent in the world they could have beaten by 30 points while only shooting 41 percent in the first half and having 6 shots blocked. This stat is gradually improving as their offense is finally waking up. The one concern you have is Pina was only .333 from the floor. When she gets going the offense should be pretty good. Hopefully this is not a down year for the junior.
Player of the Game: Katelyn Linney who had 27 points and only missed 4 shots.

Up Next:
The Stags will return home to face the Gaels of Iona College on 1/8 starting at 1 PM at Alumni Hall.

Pina is Heating Up

Desiree Pina has scored 67 of her 99 points in the last five games, raising her per game average from 5.3 a game to 9.0 a game. Over the last five outings, in which she is averaging 13.4 points per game, Pina has scored in double figures four times. She scored a career-high 24 points against St. Francis (NY), with a 7-14 effort from the field.

She is coming off a day where she struggled from the floor but was 6-9 at the line on Sunday, with her last free throw being the 100th make of her career

She has scored in double figures in each of the last three games and four of the last five, averaging 13.4 points per game in the stretch.

Pina has raised her season average to 9.0 PPG and is now shooting .257 from the floor while nearly doubling her 3 point percentage while shooting .156.

It will take a long time for her numbers to approach where we all thought that she would be when the season ends. However, it is no surprise that while she has been heating up the Stags are on a four game winning streak.

Fairfield 500

The Fairfield University women's basketball team has always been noted as a successful MAAC basketball program. In 1980, Coach Diane Nolan and Fairfield began their Division I road and have experienced many ups and downs throughout the collegiate journey. The head coach led the squad to their first win of their new division against Hartford in the second game of the 1980 season and held the reigns for the next 26 years. During that stretch they were crowned champions on the MAAC Conference four times and have been on the national stage reaching the Big Dance twice. The exciting players and memorable coaches that have passed through the hallow walls of Alumni Hall have helped designing the venue with exhilarated fans and banners that hang from the roof. And after 30 years as a Division I program, the Stags have 500 wins to show for it.

 

The third win they recorded in their D I inaugural campaign was against St. Francis of New York. 496 wins later, they recorded number 500 versus the same Terriers. "[It's] really exciting. It's fun to be a part of that win," current head coach Joe Frager said. "This place has a rich history in basketball. Coach Nolan did a tremendous job when she was here. To try and continue that legacy and get this program going, it's exciting," he said.

 

214 people were in attendance to witness the historic win and the Stags 'race' to a win with a 64-50 decision. The afternoon was also an historic day for a player as Desiree Pina enjoyed a career best 24 points. Although the season is only 9 games old, it must have felt like '500 days of summer," for the junior guard. The Pre-season All-MAAC team selection entered the game shooting 20 percent from the floor and 2-22 from behind the arc. However, she has not concentrated on her recent struggles, "I don't really look at my points records, I just look at how we're going to win. If we win I can build on that anytime," Pina said.

 

Arguably, Pina is the most important player for the squad and they hope her performance is something the can build on. "It was only a matter of time before she had a game like this. She's a very competitive person and when you don't play the way you'd like to really competitive people tend to beat themselves up mentally," Frager said.

 

Fairfield now owns a two game winning streak and have "matured" according to Frager. "We've been talking to them about the importance of communicating both offensively and defensively. We're our best when we're talking on both ends of the floor and we're starting to see some of that," he said. Fairfield has now improved to 6-3 on the year but their record is not the most important aspect that they notice. Pina had one word for what she likes best of what she saw in the team, "togetherness."

 

With conference play approaching, the team is coming together at the right time. The Stags will go for win 501 on December 22^nd against Albany.

Desiree Pina is Struggling

Desiree Pina entered the year as the teams leading returning scorer. However this season she is hitting only 1-20 from behind the arc and only .194 from the floor. That equates to only 6.1 points per game which is fifth on the team.

It is really hard to see Pina struggle like this. She works as hard as anyone and she really has that "it" factor. She can control the game better than any player I've seen. Although her numbers say 1-20 I hope she doesn't shy away from shooting because if she gets hot, watch out MAAC.

A Tale of Two Games

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was a tale of two games for the Fairfield University women’s basketball team. Over the weekend they enjoyed their best and worst offensive and defensive displays on the season, but they did not win a game dropping their record to 4-3 on the season. In fact, on Thursday against Villanova they struggled to the worst scoring display in the 30 year history in the program. Out of the 1003 career games, no Fairfield team, has ever tallied as little as 29 points. They also set the lowest mark for points in a half while only recording 9 in the first half. “It was a frustrating game,” Coach Joe Frager said. The fourth year head coach was disappointed in the amount of layups they missed in the game, “if we make just one of those, you’re looking at a 31-30 win.” Only four out of the 9 Stags players scored in the contest with junior forward Taryn Johnson leading the way with 11 points. The Stags remain winless against the Wildcats in their history, falling to 0-11. However the Pavilion at Villanova University wasn’t a ‘bleak house’ entirely for the Stags. “We were tremendously defensively,” Frager said. Fairfield held Villanova to only 30 points in the game, the lowest they have held an opponent since they held Lafayette to 29 points last year. “When you hold a Big East team to 30 points that’s impressive,” Frager said. The Stags did not allow a single point in the final 5 minutes of the contest.
The women’s basketball team traveled to Hofstra on Sunday to complete their weekend set of games. Although the boxscore would be the exact opposite, the result would stay the same: a loss. Playing against a team that had the “best press we’ve seen all season” and a system that is similar to the one that Kentucky runs according to Joe Frager, the Stags defense struggled allowing a season high 89 points. That was the most points allowed in a game since 2005 when Fairfield allowed 110 points against then the number one team in the nation: the Duke Blue Devils. Statistically it was the worst defensive performance in Frager’s four year reign. “They are two completely types of teams,” Frager said.
The Sunday game was not all ‘hard times’ however for the Stags. After only reaching 29 points in the Villanova game they accumulated 73 points to help the teams ‘pride.’ The best mark in regulation since November of 2008 when the Stags defeated Wagner 81-59.
Frager said it was good to see the team put the ball in the basket but he is hoping for a “few more role players to step up.” He believes that if they can find other people to make baskets then it would make it easier for players such as Desiree Pina and Katelyn Linney to score. The team’s leading scorer Desiree Pina has struggled in the opening stages of the season. The junior amassed 12.1 points per game last season but is only averaging a half of that total this year with 6.1 including going 1-20 from behind the arc. “I’m concerned. I’m definitely concerned,” Frager said. The Preseason All-MAAC team selection is also shooting just 19 percent from the floor. Frager does believe that she can find her way out of this slump, “she’s a battler,” he said.
After a scorching start to the season, sophomore Katelyn Linney has also cooled off. She was once shooting over 50 percent from behind the arc but is only 2-12 from downtown in her last 3 games. “[They are] guarding Katelyn tougher and tougher,” Frager said.
The squad finds themselves at 4-3 in the last few games before the end of the semester break. “If you had asked me in the preseason the way we were playing if I would have taken 4-3 I probably would have said ‘Yes’” Frager said. Although he said there is no reason the squad should not be 5-2. He says the purpose of out-of-conference games are to “[try] and get better.” He continues to look for the other players to step up for the team can fulfill their ‘great expectations.’

Women's Basketball vs Villanova

Comparing the two:
The Stags outrebound the Wildcats by nearly 8.5 boards a game. Villanova is actually being outrebounded for they year. While the Stags maintain a +2.8.

With the help of Katelyn Linney, Fairfield is shooting .435% behind the arc with the sophomore guard is shooting .576% which is 5th in the nation.

The only categories that Villanova has an edge on is assists and turnovers. Nova averages two more assists than Fairfield while committing less turnovers. Desiree Pina enters the game 22nd in the nation in assist to turnover ratio.

The Series:

Fairfield has never beaten Villanova and they are 0-10. In a series dating back to 1996.

Women's Basketball Picked to Finish 4th

The Fairfield university Women's Basketball team was picked to finish 4th in the MAAC Conference yesterday during media day. For the full story click here.

Fairfield is behind schools such as Loyola, Iona, and Marist. The Red Foxes are picked to finish 1st in the Conference for the 6th straight year. The Stags are in a 4th place tie with Manhattan College. Last year the Stags were picked 6th in the MAAC but ended up going all the way to the MAAC championship game. Coach Joe Frager said that the team expected to get around a 4th place ranking but the coach does not put much emphasis on pre-season predictions.

The biggest problem for the Stags will be the graduation of Stephanie Geehan she was a one woman wrecking crew. She was almost the entire team last year the Stags would not have been close to where they finished last year without the tremendous season that she had. Who will be that one Stag to fill the immortal shoes of Stephanie Geehan? Well three players were named to all MAAC teams

Desiree Pina was named to the all MAAC second team. She was the Stags leading returner scorer and for the first time in her career she will be looked to be the star of the team. She has great ball handling ability and can drive the lane like no one I've seen before however she will not be having the same supporting cast as years before. It will be interesting to see how she reacts to being the captain of this young team.

Taryn Johnson was picked to be on the all MAAC third team. The name of her game is athleticism. She can jump higher than anyone on the team and was a big part of their playoff run.The Stags started to heat up when Taryn Johnson started to heat up. She's going to be asked to be the Stags go to rebounder.

Katelyn Linney was also named to the all MAAC third team. The Sophomore had a breakout freshman year and could easily have won the MAAC rookie of the year combined with Pina and Vasquez she will be an even more deadly three point threat.

I really like the team this year. They have three good players but no one great. Unlike the years in the past where they had a go-to scorer it seems like they'll be fighting for a lot of points. But never underestimate the coaching of Joe Frager he is smart and he knows the game it should be a fun year.

Women's Basketball Announces 2010 Team Captains

The Fairfield Stags women's basketball team has announced the captains for the 2010-2011 season. They are: Junior Sarah Paulus, Junior Desiree Pina, and Senior Kelly Romano.

Sarah Paulus missed all but 4 games last year after suffering a knee injury. She has 3.6 PPG and 6 assists to go along with 6 turnovers. All reports and talks indicate that she will play this season and the knee is fine. She brings great leadership to the floor and seems to have great composure. She reminds me of Megan Caskin. A guard who is not know for her scoring but she can control the game.

Kelly Romano played in 16 games without scoring a point. She is one of the 2 seniors on the team combined with Joelle Nawrocki. I wonder if the Westport guard will get any more playing time this year. I remember 2008 when Nawrocki was in the same position, only really playing in blow out games, and then she earned a starting nod last year and played in more minutes in 3 game then she did in her career.

Desiree Pina can have a breakout year. She was named to the All-MAAC Third Team and the all tournament team. She struggled at first moving to the point guard position but she really became one of the better players in the MAAC. She was great at driving the lane and getting open. For the first time in her career, she will become the star of the team.

Gettin Lite is back on

WVOF has announced that Gettin Lite is back on the air for it's third season. It will actually be filmed and broadcasted for the Ham Channel and Youtube. Past guests include:

Derek Needham
Yorel Hawkins
Stephanie Geehan
Desiree Pina
Brianna Dixion

The show will be on the air Tuesdays at 8PM and on youtube whenever the show is finished editing.