Preview: Iona Gaels at Fairfield Stags - Women’s Basketball

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Interstat) — A surging Fairfield squad looks to continue its dominant Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference run when it hosts an Iona team seeking stability Saturday at Webster Bank Arena.

The Stags (19-4 overall) enter as one of the league’s hottest teams, having won 10 of their last 11 games. Their most recent performance was a historic 109-48 demolition of Marist on Thursday, a game in which sophomore standout Meghan Andersen exploded for 40 points in just 25 minutes. Andersen’s scoring outburst highlighted a deep and efficient Fairfield offense that has consistently overwhelmed conference opponents.

Iona (14-9), meanwhile, aims to rebound from a heartbreaking 63-62 home loss to Mount Saint Mary’s on Thursday. The Gaels have alternated wins and losses over their past six games, struggling to find a sustained rhythm. They will lean heavily on guard Zoey Ward, who scored 27 points in the narrow defeat and has been a consistent force. Ward averaged 17.1 points over a recent eight-game stretch, including a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double in a win at Manhattan on Jan. 31.

The matchup pits Fairfield’s high-powered attack against an Iona defense that has shown resilience but occasional vulnerability. The Stags’ 109-point effort underscored their offensive ceiling, while the Gaels have held three of their last five opponents under 65 points.

Andersen, averaging 16.3 points per game, provides a versatile scoring threat for Fairfield. Her supporting cast includes Kaety L’Amoreaux, who dished out eight assists against Marist. For Iona, secondary scoring behind Ward will be critical; Mya Zaccagnini and Isabellah Middleton combined for 18 points in the last outing.

Fairfield won the first meeting this season, 72-54, at Iona on Jan. 1. Since that loss, the Gaels have gone 9-5.

Saturday’s contest is scheduled for a 1 p.m. tip-off. Following this game, Fairfield visits Mount Saint Mary’s on Feb. 12, while Iona hosts Canisius on the same date.