This win was never even in doubt for the Stags. Fairfield was up 15-0 before Niagara even scored a point, and cruised to a 77-63 victory. This win improves their record to 4-5 overall (1-0 MAAC).
Fairfield was able to shoot 49% from the field while limiting the Purple Eagles to 33% and also out rebounded them 53-35.
The easiest problem to identify is the team's free throw shooting. They were terrible from the line shooting only 11 of 26 (42%!!).
Shoot the ball Rick Barry style if you have to, but just make the gimmees!
That is just a terrible number and if Fairfield is in any close games, it will cost them.
The Stags also struggled slightly with turnovers. I thought they had broken through with the play of sophomore PG Megan Caskin, but the team didn't play as well as I thought they would. Caskin didn't play bad, 5 assists along with 3 turnovers, but the team had 20 turnovers total. Junior guard Sabra Wrice had six assists along with 4 more turnovers. Hopefully they can get their average down to about 13-14 per game.
Junior backup center Stephanie Cziria played another physical game with 4 fouls in 12 minutes.. She is currently averaging 3.4 per game in only 14.5 minutes. While she also leads the team in blocks, she seems to have taken the role of an enforcer down low.
The Stags also had two players foul out, Caskin, and Meka Werts. A recent crackdown by the refs on hand checking from the guards is the likely cause.
Despite their problems, the Stags proved that they can play well within the MAAC.
Up next for Fairfield is Canisius on Sunday as the Stags look to go up 2-0 on the MAAC.
-Chris Simmons
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