SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The sixth-seeded Fairfield University women's basketball team came from behind to defeat third-seeded Bryant University, 90-86, in double overtime in the opening round of the 2014 Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI). The Stags (21-10) will host seventh-seeded University of Maine in the WBI quarterfinals this weekend.
Senior
Katie Cizynski recorded her 12th double-double of the season, finishing with 24 points and 13 rebounds in 50 minutes of action. Senior
Brittany Obi-Tabot had her second double-double of the year with 20 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in 49 minutes of action. Sophomore
Kristin Schatzlein tallied 19 points on 7-for-13 shooting, including five three-pointers, while senior
Alexys Vazquez had 17 points, including five three-pointers.
Bryant (17-15) jumped out to a 20-9 lead to start the game. Fairfield chipped away, pulling within 24-20 on a three-pointer by Schatzlein at 7:19.
Lizzy Ball made it a two-point game with a lay-up at 6:29 but Tiersa Winder countered 18 seconds later to make it 26-22. Bryant would close out the stanza with a 6-2 run to take a 34-26 lead into half time.
The Stags got off to a better start in the second half, narrowing the gap to 39-37 on a bucket by Cizynski at 16:05. The Bulldogs used a quick 6-2 run to pull away. The Stags cut into the lead once more as an offensive board and a lay-up by Obi-Tabot made it 45-43 at 11:58. The Bulldogs responded with a 9-2 run over a three-minute span to open up a 54-45 lead with just under nine minutes left to play.
A three by Vazquez at 8:34 sparked a 6-0 run for the Stags as they pulled within 54-51. Bryant managed to open up a 63-56 lead. The Stags, however, used a 5-0 run which was capped off by a Schatzlein three-pointer at 1:44 to make it 63-61. After a Jenniqua Bailey lay-up, Cizynski kept the Stags win the game with a bucket with 56 seconds left. Bryant returned the lead to four points with 11 seconds remaining but a three-pointer by Vazquez from way downtown pulled the Stags within 67-66. After a pair of Bryant free throws made it 69-66, Vazquez tossed up a desperation three-pointer and swished it at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
Vazquez gave the Stags their first lead of the game at 3:35 in the first overtime period with a three-pointer. Bryant surged back, overtaking the Stags, 77-76, on a pair of free throws by Bailey at 1:36. Just 34 seconds later, Courtney Schissler made a lay-up to push the lead to 79-76. But with 31.5 seconds left, Obi-Tabot successfully converted a three-point play to tie it up. Fairfield got the stop on the defensive end to force double overtime.
In the second overtime, the Stags opened up an 84-79 lead by the 3:10 mark. The Bulldogs pulled within 84-83 on a lay-up at 1:46 but
Felicia DaCruz answered with a jumper 25 seconds later. The Stags hung on for the 90-86 win.
Ball dished out a career-best five assists while DaCruz had eight points and seven assists.
Fairfield shot 46.3 percent from the field while Bryant shot 43.0 percent. The Stags out-rebounded the Bulldogs 50-41. The Stags recorded 10 three-pointers on the night, which tied them for the third-highest single game total in program history. The last time they hit 10 three-pointers was in the 2013 WBI opening round versus St. Francis (PA).
It was Fairfield's first double overtime game since February 8, 2009 when the Stags defeated Niagara 66-65. Wednesday's contest was the Stags' fourth overtime game of the year, tying the program record for most overtimes in a season.