Solid Nucleus Returning For Fairfield Men, Women
MAAC Sports
Continued Improvement the Focus For Johnson’s Stags
In Sydney Johnson’s first two seasons as head coach of the Fairfield University men’s basketball team, the Stags have won 41 games, advanced to the MAAC Championship semifinals and have made two post-season tournament appearances.
The Stags look to continue to build on that momentum in 2013-14. Although losing senior standouts Derek Needham, Colin Nickerson and Desmond Wade to graduation, Johnson welcomes back a solid nucleus that includes Maurice Barrow, a 6-5, 210-pound senior forward who was voted the MAAC’s “Sixth Man of the Year” after averaging 8.9 points and 3.9 rebounds. Also on hand will be Amadou Sidibe, a 6-8,215-pound sophomore center, who was the MAAC’s “Co-Rookie of the Year” after averaging 5.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Sidibe has been selected as team captain this season. Another MAAC All-Rookie selection, 6-6 Marcus Gilbert, contributed 5.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last season. The Stags were picked to finish sixth in the pre-season poll.
The Stags open their season facing Sacred Heart on Nov. 9, and will also play defending national champion Louisville and either North Carolina or Richmond in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament at Mohegan Sun on Nov. 23-24.The Stags will appear three times during the regular season on ESPN3 as part of the MAAC’s television package, including the Dec. 6 contest at Quinnipiac in the latter’s first game ever in the MAAC. Fairfield will also host Niagara on Jan.16, and the return trip by Quinnipiac on Feb. 13.
Frager’s Stags Look to Strong Frontcourt, Veteran Leadership
The Fairfield University women’s basketball team’s frontcourt will look to lead the Stags in 2013-14 season after a strong 18 win season last year. The Stags were one of the top defensive rebounding teams in the MAAC and finished third in the regular season after posting an 11-7 league record in 2012-13, and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI). The Stags were chosen fourth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
In the upcoming 2013-14 season, the Fairfield Stags and head coach Joe Frager, who enters his seventh season, return four starters to an experienced squad. Preseason All-MAAC First Team member Katie Cizynski leads the way along with frontcourt teammate and Preseason All-MAAC Second Team selection Brittany Obi-Tabot. They will be joined by the team’s top 3-point threat, Alexys Vazquez, and assist leader Felicia DaCruz. The Southbury, CT. native Cizynski, led the Stags and ranked fifth in the MAAC, averaging 8.4 rebounds per game, and ranked 4th in the MAAC with a .486 field goal percentage last year after sinking 154 of 317 shots. 6-1 center Obi-Tabot, swatted 28 blocks, good for sixth in the MAAC and ranked 8th in offensive rebounds with 2.6 per game last year. Vazquez, the senior guard from Berlin, Conn., finished second in league with 74 made three-pointers and fourth in the MAAC, knocking down 39.2% of her three-pointers attempted. Junior guard, DaCruz, led the Stags and ranked seventh in the conference with 3.1 assists per contest.
Fairfield opens the 2013-14 season on Nov. 8 in Corpus Christi, TX., at the Insider Tournament. The Stags will appear in two games on the ESPN networks as part of the MAAC’s television package, including Jan. 16 against Siena and Feb. 13 vs. Rider. Both televised games will be played at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.