Villanova 51, Fairfield 45

The women's basketball team dropped their first game of the season Wednesday losing to Villanova on the road. The loss drops the Stags' record to 5-1 overall while improves the Wildcats to 5-1 as well.

It was a tough night offensively for the Stags as they shot only 37.7 percent from the floor and only 14.3 percent from beyond the arc. They also committed 16 turnovers while only forcing eight.

Baendu Lowenthal '09 was Fairfield's leading scorer with 14 points. However, she was only seven of 18 from the floor. Sabra Wrice '08, the Stags' leading scorer, had only seven points on three of 14 shooting and was only one of eight from beyond thee arc.

Megan Caskin '09 played all 40 minutes and despite not scoring any points, picked up six assists to one turnover along with six rebounds.

The Stags lost despite out rebounding Villanova 41-30 and limiting the Wildcats to only 27 percent three-point shooting.

The game was close throughout and Fairfield help a one point advantage early in the first second half, but when Villanova pulled ahead, the Stags could not catch up.

-Chris Simmons

Villanova 21, Fairfield 20 Halftime

The women's team has kept the score close despite turning the ball over eight times compared to Villanova's three.

- The Stags have out shot the Wildcats 39.1% to 29.6%
- The Stags have out rebounded the Wildcats 19 to 15
- Baendu Lowenthal '09 has paced Fairfield with six points along with four rebounds.
- Sabra Wrice '08 has scored five points.

-Chris Simmons

79-73 Stags; 44.1 in the 2nd

• Ryon Howard fakes a three, and drives it with no pressure for an easy two. FU will take that in a heartbeat. Stags ball, and SHU calls a T.O. to talk things over.
  
• Nero goes one-for-two, and the Stags maintain that lead. The y ned a stop on D to ice the game.
  
• Nero goes to the line - not a great sight if you're wearing red right now.
  
• Nero gets the ball in low and his hacked hard as he tries to put it in. A little surprising that the didn't foul right away when Han was trying to run the clock out. The coaches were screaming for backcourt pressure and got nothing.
  
• Stags ball with an in-bound from deep in their own territory. SHU puts on a full court press, but the Stags do a textbook job of breaking it. Here's a shot to ice the game.
  

- K.C.

78-71 Stags; 1:56 in the 2nd

• Hardy misses a three, but Ryon Howard works hard underneath and gets a tip-in. They certainly are not giving up just yet. 1:56 to play
  
• 78-69 FU after Han hits both from the line. 2:00 to play.
  
• Shubik gets a little greedy and reaches on Han. The guard heads to the line with a shot to keep the game going the favor of North Benson Rd.
  
• Sahan grabs a miss and adds it to the line. "A.J.! Rebound!" yells Cooley. 76-69 FU.
  
• Can SHU respond? Odds are they'll look to their outside sharpshooters for a spark. And Big Red, who's right in front of me and not giving up yet.
  

- K.C.

76-67 FU;2:47 in the 2nd

• 2:47 to play, and the Stags lead it, 76-67
  
• Nero gets a sick pass from Han, and he had no chance of missing. Brooks got greedy and tried to hit him, but it was going in anyway. Nero gets the "and one" and converts with ease - leading to a SHU timeout.
  
• Loose ball off of a Hardy miss goes off of a foot. The refs talk it over and give it to the Stags. FU ball.
  
• Han goes to the line with a shot at two. He hits both to put FU back in control by six. 73-67 Stags.
  
• Foul gets called on the floor on Mehmet Sahan, who looks confused as to the foul and the language in which the ref is speaking. Hmm.
  
• Brice Brooks drains a three to pull the Pioneers within four. 71-67 FU.
  
• SHU in-bounds on their end with about 4:00 to play. Let's se ewhat goes down.
  
• And the dance team is done. Finally. No, they're great. I swear.
  

- Keith Connors

71-65 FU; 3:56 in the 2nd

• Dance team is up, 3:56 to play
  
• Ryon Howard goes up strong, but his shot in met by Anthony Johnson's fat hand. Ouch. The ball flies out of bounds and the Stags get a cheer from the crowd.
  
• Howard adds the freebie, and it's a six-point game. 71-65 FU.
  
• Ryon Howard makes amends by grabbing his own miss and putting it in with the foul. Here's his chance to keep making this a tight one.
  
• After a hold gets called on Ryon Howard, Han goes to the line as Sacred Heart is over the limit. Han hits both of them and puts the Stags up nine. 71-62 FU.
  
• After two Anthony Johnson easy misses, SHU turns it over and gives Jon Han a textbook drive and lay-in on the other end. He went baseline to baseline. 69-62 Stags.
  
• Chauncey Hardy misses an NBA-range desperation three at the buzzer. Whammy.
  
• The scene: with Sacred Heart rallying, the Stags need to show some poise and get a much needed defensive stop. 5:30 to play, and Fairfield holds a 67-62 lead. Hold on to your butts.
  
• The Big Red just bagged a Stag. Whatever that means.
  

- Keith Connors

67-62 FU; 5:46 in the 2nd

• SHU timeout to get the troops rallied.
  
• FU ball. Somehow. It happened way to fast - I swear.
  
• Mamadou misses in a rare event. Yorel grabs the board, but the Stags turn it over anyway.
  
• FU gets the ball back, and the Pioneers are one away from a one-and-one if they keep fouling.
  
• Chauncey Hardy nails a great look after an Anthony Johnson miss. 67-62 FU.
  

- Keith Connors