Fairfield, Conn. - Desiree Pina scored a game-high 13 points to lead Fairfield to a 55-26 win over UAlbany in non-conference women's basketball action at Alumni Hall on Wednesday evening.

            Fairfield (7-3) built up a 21-16 halftime lead behind eight points from Joelle Nawrocki. The teams played a tight start to the half, with a jumper from Nawrocki at 13:35 putting Fairfield ahead for the first time. After a 3-pointer by UAlbany's Ebone Henry at 12:18, the Stags used a pressure defense and took advantage of poor shooting by the Great Danes to go on an 11-0 run. The Great Danes did not hit a shot from the floor for over 10 minutes, but ended the scoring drought with two free throws by Melia Basavand at 3:25. UAlbany then held Fairfield without a basket for the final 2:05 to play, and Felicia Johnson cut the lead to five points with a half-court shot at the buzzer.

            The Great Danes came out firing in the second half, getting back-to-back baskets from Julie Forster to start play. However, Fairfield got six points from Katelyn Linney and another 3-pointer from Laura Vetra, along with jumpers from Taryn Johnson and Pina to hold onto a 34-24 lead with 13 minutes left to play. After an eight-minute scoring drought, Cassandra Callaway would hit one final jumper for the Great Danes at 4:17 for two of her six points, ending another 11-0 Fairfield run. The Stags would tack on ten more points in the final 3:48 to seal the final decision.

            Pina led Fairfield with 13 points, while Johnson added 12 points and recorded nine rebounds and four blocks. Nawrocki added 10 points. The Stags shot 41.7 percent (20-48) from the floor, while holding UAlbany to just nine baskets and a 16.1 shooting percentage (9-56). Callaway and Forster each scored six points, while Forster grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds. UAlbany recorded 11 steals, lead by Ebone Henry with four.

            UAlbany (7-5), which ended a three-game sweep of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams with the loss to Fairfield, will return to action after the new year, hosting Fordham at SEFCU Arena on Jan. 2.

Fairfield 55, UAlbany 26 (12/22/10 at Alumni Hall, Fairfield, Conn.)

ALBANY 26

Fairfield 55