Dale, Gaziano Lead Women’s Basketball Past Fairfield, 58-44

Sunday, December 22

Fairfield, Conn.

2:00 PM

Brown University

5-6,0-0Ivy Leag

Fairfield

3-6,0-0MAAC

Brown

Fairfield

Dale, Gaziano Lead Women’s Basketball Past Fairfield, 58-44

12/22/2019 4:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Junior guard McKenna Dale scored a career-high 19 points, senior guard Justine Gaziano netted 17 points, and Brown University women's basketball defeated Fairfield University, 58-44, on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Hall.

Playing for the first time since December 8, the Bears (5-6) gained a 28-21 halftime lead and earned an advantage as large as 16 points in the second half on their way to the victory over the host Stags (3-6).

"I was really pleased with the way we played coming off a two-week break from games," Brown head coach Sarah Behn said. "We did a great job following the game plan – especially on the defensive end – against a team that just went to overtime with St. John's. McKenna Dale had a great game, and everyone who came onto the court made important contributions."

Dale (Storrs, Conn.) posted a career-best seven rebounds alongside her 19 points, scoring in double figures for the fourth time this year. She made 6-of-15 field goals, 3-of-7 3-pointers, and 4-of-5 free throws.

Gaziano (Natick, Mass.) netted 12 of her 17 points in the second half, scoring in double figures for the seventh time this year and 75^th time in her career. She connected on 6-of-9 field goals, 3-of-4 treys, and 2-of-2 free throws, while grabbing four rebounds.

Junior guard Dominique Leonidas (Stone Mountain, Ga.) notched 10 points and four rebounds. She scored in double figures for the fourth time this year and eighth time in her career behind 4-of-8 field goals and 2-of-2 free throws.

Freshman forward Fiona Finn (West Roxbury, Mass.) tallied six points and four rebounds, senior center Haley Green (Salem Va.) compiled six rebounds and a team-high three assists, and sophomore forward Ashley Ducharme (Milton, Mass.) chipped in five rebounds and two blocks.

The Bears gained a 21-point edge at the 3-point line as Brown connected on 7-of-20 shots (35.0 percent) from distance while not permitting the Stags to make a triple (0-13). Brown held a 39-28 rebounding advantage.

The Bears opened the game with an 8-2 lead at the 6:27 mark of the first quarter as Leonidas connected on a jumper, Dale converted a 3-point play, and Gaziano knocked down a 3-pointer. Baskets from Dale, Leonidas, and Finn kept the Bears ahead 14-13 at the end of the first.

After Fairfield pulled ahead 17-15 early in the second quarter, the Bears responded with a 10-2 run, claiming a 25-19 lead with 5:03 left in the half. Dale keyed the run with a pair of 3-pointers alongside a Gaziano jumper and pair of free throws from Finn. A 3-pointer from freshman guard Sydney Rosant (Foster City, Ga.) inside of the final 30 seconds of the stanza staked Brown to a 28-21 halftime advantage.

In the first half, Brown led 22-13 in rebounds, while making 10-of-23 field goals (43.5 percent) and 4-of-11 3-pointers (36.4 percent). The Bears limited the Stags to 32.1-percent shooting from the floor (9-of-28) and did not give up a 3-pointer.

Dale and Leonidas scored the first two baskets of the second half, giving the Bears a 32-21 lead and capping a 17-4 run. Later in the frame, a pair of 3-pointers from Gaziano kept the Bears up 40-31 with 4:06 left in the third. A jumper from Finn and another trey from Dale gave Brown a 45-34 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

Six points from Gaziano and a free throw from sophomore forward Alana Kelley (Phoenix, Ariz.) kept Brown up 52-38 with 4:02 to play. A jumper from Leonidas pushed the margin to 54-38 – the Bears' biggest lead of the game – with 2:37 left. Dale and Leonidas each connected on a pair of free throws inside of the final minute to seal the win.

For Fairfield, Katie Armstrong posted 11 points and eight rebounds, and Rachel Hakes netted 10 points.

Next, Brown makes a trip to the state of Florida for games at Florida International University on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2:00 p.m. and at the University of South Florida 00on Monday, Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m.

Video of all Brown women's basketball home contests and all Ivy League games, home and away, will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Tickets for all Brown women's basketball games can be purchased online, by calling the Brown Athletics Ticket Office at (401) 863-2773, or by walking up to the box office located in the Pizzitola Sports Center, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.