ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (Mar. 9, 2022) – The first day of the 2022 Hercules Tires Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Women’s Basketball Championship quarterfinal round concluded on Wednesday with both top-seeds advancing. No. 1 Fairfield University and No. 2 Quinnipiac University each earned wins in their respective games to move onto the semifinals.
 
No. 1 Fairfield – 69 | No. 8 Iona – 56
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall | ATLANTIC CITY, NJ
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Top-seeded Fairfield defeated Iona 69-56 in the quarterfinals of the MAAC championship, to advance to the semifinal round. Despite the Stags holding an advantage on the scoreboard for almost 37 minutes, the Gaels kept it close with the regular season champs for 35 minutes and it wasn’t until a three-pointer from Sam Lewis with 4:26 left iced the game for Fairfield. Rachel Hakes led all scorers with 26 points, six rebounds, and five assists. MAAC Player of the Year Lou Lopez-Senechal scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half and Lewis finished with 12 points. Iona’s top scorers on the afternoon were Juana Camilion (18), Olivia Vezaldenos (15), and Judith Gomez (11). The Stags make their second straight trip to the semifinals for the first time in over a decade, last playing in consecutive semis in 2009 and 2010. Fairfield will play on Friday, March 11 at 11am in the semifinals against the winner of No. 4 Niagara and No. 5 Siena.
 
No. 2 Quinnipiac – 29 | No. 7 Saint Peter’s – 49
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall | ATLANTIC CITY, NJ
Stats
 
Quinnipiac beat Saint Peter’s 63-42 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. The Peacocks raced out to an 18-4 lead with 2:07 left in the first quarter. From that point on, it was all Bobcats, as Quinnipiac outscored Saint Peter’s 22-5 by halftime and 59-24 for the remainder of the game. Quinnipiac’s defense held Saint Peter’s to 23 percent shooting from the floor and 28 percent from three. Mackenzie DeWees and Mikala Morris led the Bobcats offensively, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively. The Peacocks were led by Kendrea Williams’ 16 points and Nickelle O’Neil’s 11 points. This will be Quinnipiac’s seventh appearance in the MAAC semifinals since joining the conference at the start of the 2013-14 season. The Bobcats next opponent will be between the winner of No. 3 Manhattan vs. No. 11 Canisius on Friday at 1:30pm.
 
Stay up to date with all MAAC basketball by visiting MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 41st year of competition during the 2021-22 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.