Final Stats

BRIDGEPORT, CONN. – Fairfield ended the game on a 14-3 run over the final 4:40 as the MAAC preseason favorites fended off Siena Women's Basketball 67-55 at Webster Bank Arena. Sophomore guard Kollyns Scarbrough paced the Saints with 14 points, five rebounds and four assists.

After going the first 76 games of her career without recording a double-double, Symone Kelly reached the milestone for the second time in less than 48 hours for Siena (12-12, 9-5). The senior forward finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Saints which have lost five of seven to dip back to .500.

Kristin Schatzlein and reserve Kristine Miller each tied career-highs in scoring with 22 and 14 points respectively for surging Fairfield (13-10, 8-6) which has won five straight and seven of eight. Schatzlein added five assists without a turnover for the Stags which dished out 18 helpers while committing just eight miscues as a team.

In a game featuring three ties and nine lead changes, freshman guard Jackie Benitez nailed a three to cap a mini 6-0 run to rally the Saints within a point at 53-52 with an even seven minutes to play. The teams had exchanged separate 11-2 second half flurries with the latter positioning the Stags ahead by six, and shortly thereafter seven, moments into the fourth quarter.

Siena had a chance to extend the run and reclaim the lead on each of its next four possessions, but couldn't get over the hump. Fairfield responded as Schatzlein scored all nine of her second half points during the decisive spurt, including consecutive layups that pushed the lead to 10 with 1:02 to play.

Benitez finished with nine points off the bench for the Saints which missed 10 of their last 11 shots. Siena had shot at a 46.2% clip in the first half, but the Stags connected on an even 50% of their attempts to take a 35-31 lead at the break. Fairfield shot 49.1% for the contest.

Kelsey Carey added 12 points and five rebounds for Fairfield which has won nine of the last 11 over Siena.

The Saints return home Wednesday when they host MAAC frontrunner Iona at 7 p.m. The game will be televised throughout New York on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.