Men: 3rd in Defense

In the updated NCAA statistics, the Fairfield University men's basketball team is ranked as number 3 in scoring defense only allowing 53.9 points per game. Stephen F. Austin leads the nation in the category nearly a point and a half better than the Stags. Austin has played in 2 less games which could be why they have allowed 200 fewer points than the Stags. Fairfield remains one of the only teams in the nation NOT to allow 70 points or more.

It is interesting stat because of the very weak strength of schedule that the team has had. If the Stags actually played Florida, the ranking will defintely decrease. The big test will come when the squad competes against Iona and Rider. With their over powering offense, the Stags defensive system will have it's biggest test.

Women: #2 in Defense

The Fairfield University women's basketball team, have improved to a number 2 ranking in the national scoring defense category, according to the updated stats. The only team that ranks higher than the Stags are West Virginia, and Fairfield is nearly 1 point better than UCONN. The closest other MAAC team is Manhattan who comes into the week at number 6. Fairfield is also in the top 25 in 3 point shooting defense at number 22.

With only the MAAC left to play, I would not be surprised if the Stags stay in the top 10 or even in the top 5 by the end of the year.

They do have to play Marist twice which should raise that average, and the loss to Siena might have put the Stags back down to Earth. They just blew out an Iona team who made the WNIT three out of the last four years and they have been winning with ease. The Siena game was needed to show the team that they did come into the year at number four and they are still not all the way there.

Joe Frager is known for his defense. Everywhere he has been, his top priority has always been his defense, even when he won a national title with Southern Connecticut, a place where he also had the best defense in the country. If anyone can establish a defensive presence for Fairfield, it's going to be him.

Stags #22 in Mid Major Poll

In the most recent edition of the College Insider Mid Major Poll, the Fairfield Stags were ranked number 22 with 112 points. The closest MAAC team was Iona who recieved 39 points. The previous week, the Stags failed to rank in the top 25 after starting the year number 10.

Historic Night For Linney

Katelyn Linney scored a game high 27 points against Niagara helping the Stags to their fifth straight win. In the process she reached the 500 points mark and became just the seventh member of the Fairfield basketball program to reach 100 made threes.

Katelyn Linney has connected 35 times from behind the arc this season and now has 102 career makes from downtown. There are only seven players in Fairfield history that have connected 100 or more times from behind the arc, led by the 209 makes of Holli Tapley (1997-2001).

Katelyn Linney is 24th in the country in three-point field goal percentage and is 39th nationally in three pointers made per game.

For the season she is shooting .467 from behind the arc (35-75) and .450 from the floor. The rest of the team combined have 25, Joelle Nawrocki is second on the team with 11.

Stags 99th in Nation

The new computer ratings involving the MAAC Conference has been released. Ranking all the teams in the nation finds Rider in first in the MAAC, followed by Iona, and Fairfield at 99 rounding out the top 3.

I agree with the computer ratings as you can argue that Fairfield have two quality wins al year with the road victory at Siena and the home win against Vermont. The cancellation at Florida is a killer because they are more than a quality team and the Stags would be able to see where they stand. They are the last quality non-conference opponent and the rest of the schedule is very weak.

National Rankings

Men's Basketball:
Team out of 336:
Scoring Offense (61.2 PPG) 290th
Scoring Defense (58.6 PPG) 36th
3 Pt Field Goals (4.6 PG) 292nd
3 Pt Pct Defense (30.2%) 101st
Rebound Margin (4.4) 97th

Individual out of 250:
Derek Needham- 3 Pt Field Goals (2.2) 183rd
Ryan Olander- Rebounds (7.4) 171st
Derek Needham- Assits (3.6) 231st
Ryan Olander- Blocked Shots (2.2) 51st
Colin Nickerson- Assist Turnover Ratio (2.5) 61st

Women's Basketball:
Team out of 333:
Scoring Offense (58.4 PPG) 244th
Scoring Defense (47.4 PPG) 12th
3 Pt Field Goals (6.2 PG) 88th
3 Pct Defense (43.7%) 7th
Rebound Margin (2.8) 119th

Individual out of 250:
Katelyn Linney- 3 Pt Field Goals PG (3.8) 3rd
Katelyn Linney- 3 Pt Field Goals Pct (57.6) 5th
Desiree Pina- Assist Turnover Ration (3.0) 15th
Desiree Pina- Assists PG (3.6) 203rd
Laura Vetra- Rebounds PG (7.4) 215th