Post by FU73 on Mar 7, 2015 7:07:10 GMT -5
The Stags will play Marist in the MAAC Women's Semifinal game on Sunday at 1:30 pm on ESPN3 after the Stags defeated Niagara 65-57 and Marist defeated St. Peter's 62-57 in the Quarterfinal Round games.
In the win over Niagara, Felicia DaCruz connected on just one of her first nine shots, but the lone senior never gave up, kept shooting, and made three of her final four attempts, all in the final 14 minutes as the Stags finished off the sixth-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles 65-57 to advance to their first MAAC Semifinal since 2012.
“It’s not about my mechanics, it’s mostly my confidence in myself,” DaCruz said. “I just knew from experience in the last four years that if I struggle shooting the ball in the first half, they are going to start falling in the second half. I continue to believe in myself and my teammates continued to believe in me which was a confidence boost.”
“Feesh has gotten nothing but better and better over her career,” Head Coach Joe Frager said. “She did struggle shooting the ball in the beginning but it shows the character that she has. She knew she was going to get open looks and she knocked down huge shots for us.”....
The Stags showed no jitters early in the contest as they brought the intensity on the defensive side and on the glass. Kristine Miller single-handedly disrupted Niagara by posting three steals and a block in the first nine minutes of the game. “This game was huge coming into it,” Miller said. “We were all so prepared and so ready to battle, so I think the first five minutes we have to focus on coming out as strong as we can and by any means necessary.”....
The rebounding was a theme that continued all game long. The Stags had been out-rebounded by a combined 33 points by the best rebounding team in the conference.
“They had out-rebounded us 77-44,” Frager said. “That’s a lot. These guys got sick and tired of hearing about that. I was writing it wherever I could possibly write it, I came close to trying and stencil it on our foreheads all week, I don’t think they would have appreciated that. They took the challenge. We had to make the hustle plays, we had to get the 50/50 balls which I think we got the majority of them tonight.”...
DaCruz (10 points, 9 assists, 1 turnover) led the intensity in what will not be her final game which spread to the rest of the team. Kelsey Carey has a stretch where she drew a charge, dove for a loose ball, and scored four points. All of that started with their leadership and DaCruz. “We just really wanted to win because selfishly I want to get the opportunity to keep coaching her a little longer,” Frager said. “It’s been a privilege to work with her over these last four years and I don’t want that to end. I want that to go on as long as possible.”
Box Score:
www.fairfieldstags.com/fls/32500/Stats/WBB/2014-15/maacw7.htm
In the win over Niagara, Felicia DaCruz connected on just one of her first nine shots, but the lone senior never gave up, kept shooting, and made three of her final four attempts, all in the final 14 minutes as the Stags finished off the sixth-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles 65-57 to advance to their first MAAC Semifinal since 2012.
“It’s not about my mechanics, it’s mostly my confidence in myself,” DaCruz said. “I just knew from experience in the last four years that if I struggle shooting the ball in the first half, they are going to start falling in the second half. I continue to believe in myself and my teammates continued to believe in me which was a confidence boost.”
“Feesh has gotten nothing but better and better over her career,” Head Coach Joe Frager said. “She did struggle shooting the ball in the beginning but it shows the character that she has. She knew she was going to get open looks and she knocked down huge shots for us.”....
The Stags showed no jitters early in the contest as they brought the intensity on the defensive side and on the glass. Kristine Miller single-handedly disrupted Niagara by posting three steals and a block in the first nine minutes of the game. “This game was huge coming into it,” Miller said. “We were all so prepared and so ready to battle, so I think the first five minutes we have to focus on coming out as strong as we can and by any means necessary.”....
The rebounding was a theme that continued all game long. The Stags had been out-rebounded by a combined 33 points by the best rebounding team in the conference.
“They had out-rebounded us 77-44,” Frager said. “That’s a lot. These guys got sick and tired of hearing about that. I was writing it wherever I could possibly write it, I came close to trying and stencil it on our foreheads all week, I don’t think they would have appreciated that. They took the challenge. We had to make the hustle plays, we had to get the 50/50 balls which I think we got the majority of them tonight.”...
DaCruz (10 points, 9 assists, 1 turnover) led the intensity in what will not be her final game which spread to the rest of the team. Kelsey Carey has a stretch where she drew a charge, dove for a loose ball, and scored four points. All of that started with their leadership and DaCruz. “We just really wanted to win because selfishly I want to get the opportunity to keep coaching her a little longer,” Frager said. “It’s been a privilege to work with her over these last four years and I don’t want that to end. I want that to go on as long as possible.”
Box Score:
www.fairfieldstags.com/fls/32500/Stats/WBB/2014-15/maacw7.htm
