Fairfield Hosts MAAC Basketball DH on ESPN3 Thursday
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. - The Webster Bank Arena, the home of Fairfield University basketball, is the site for the next MAAC men's and women's basketball doubleheader to air this season on ESPN3 on Thursday, Feb.14.
The women's game between Canisius College and Fairfield will take place at 6:00 p.m. Canisius, 9-14 overall and 6-6 in the MAAC, is led by senior guard Ashley Durham, who is registering 11.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, and junior forward Jamie Ruttle, who is averaging 8.8 points and 4.5 caroms a night for the Golden Griffins. Fairfield, 14-9 overall and 8-4 in the MAAC, is led by a pair of junior forwards - Katie Cizynski, who is contributing 12.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and Brittany Obi-Tabot, who is posting 10.3 points and 5.6 rebounds an outing for the Stags.
The men's contest between Siena College and Fairfield will start at 8:30 p.m. Siena, 6-19 overall and 4-10 in the MAAC, is led by senior forward O.D. Anosike, who is averaging 13.2 points along with a nation-best 11.9 rebounds per game, as well as sophomore guard Rob Poole, who is contributing 12.3 points and 5.1 boards an outing for the Saints. Fairfield, 15-11 overall and 7-7 in the MAAC, is led by senior guard Derek Needham, who is averaging 14.2 points and 3.4 assists an outing, and junior forward Maurice Barrow, who is netting 9.5 points and grabbing 4.0 caroms a night for the Stags.
In their first meeting on Feb. 4, Needham scored a game-high 18 points to help Fairfield earn a 64-54 win over Siena at the Times Union Center. Barrow added 11 points and Amadou Sidibe had 10 for Fairfield. Tied at 41 at the 10:30 mark, Fairfield took a double digit lead, 59-45, behind an 18-4 run capped by Desmond Wade's layup with 2:34 remaining. Barrow sparked the run with consecutive baskets and scored nine points during the stretch. Siena cut the lead to single digits, 60-51 with just 52 seconds left, but Fairfield made four consecutive free throws to ensure the win. Anosike led the Saints with 15 points and eight rebounds.