LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — In a high-stakes, early-season non-conference showdown, the Fairfield Stags remained undefeated by outlasting the South Florida Bulls 80-72 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 1,588, was a tale of offensive efficiency and a decisive first-quarter surge by the Stags. Fairfield’s victory was powered by a career-high 28 points from guard Kaety L’Amoreaux and a sharp-shooting performance from beyond the arc, overcoming a valiant second-half push from South Florida.

Fairfield, now 3-0, seized control of the game from the opening tip. The Stags erupted for 25 points in the first quarter, connecting on four three-pointers and capitalizing on early South Florida miscues. L’Amoreaux, a 5-foot-6 guard from Endwell, New York, was instrumental, scoring 11 points in the period as Fairfield built a lead it would not relinquish. The Bulls, meanwhile, struggled to find their offensive rhythm early, scoring 16 points in the quarter and facing a deficit they would spend the rest of the game trying to erase.

South Florida, which fell to 2-1, mounted a significant challenge in the second and third quarters. The Bulls outscored the Stags 21-17 in the second period, led by the backcourt duo of Stefanie Ingram and Katie Davidson. Ingram, a 5-8 guard from Orlando, Florida, orchestrated the offense with precision, finishing the game with 14 points and eight assists. Davidson, a 5-10 guard from Indianapolis, provided a scoring punch with 17 points.

The Bulls continued their comeback attempt after halftime, exploding for 24 points in the third quarter. They whittled the Fairfield lead down to single digits on multiple occasions, using a 14-4 run at one point to put pressure on the Stags. Edyn Battle, a 5-7 guard from Gahanna, Ohio, was a key contributor during this stretch, finishing the game with 15 points.

However, every time South Florida threatened, Fairfield had an answer, primarily from L’Amoreaux. She played 34 minutes, dishing out six assists to go with her game-high point total. Her backcourt partner, Christina Pham, provided crucial secondary scoring, draining five three-pointers on her way to 17 points.

The game was ultimately decided by offensive execution and free throw shooting. While South Florida dominated inside, scoring 36 points in the paint to Fairfield’s 18, the Stags’ perimeter prowess proved overwhelming. Fairfield shot 13 for 40 from three-point range, while South Florida was 7 for 20. The disparity at the free throw line was even more pronounced; the Stags converted 23 of 27 attempts, a 85 percent clip, while the Bulls made 13 of 17.

South Florida’s offensive rating of 94.6 on 76 possessions paled in comparison to Fairfield’s mark of 109.9 on 73 possessions, underscoring the Stags’ superior efficiency. Turnovers were also a factor, with the Bulls committing 13 to Fairfield’s 10, leading to 16 Stags points off those miscues.

In the final period, Fairfield clamped down defensively, holding South Florida to just 11 points. Janelle Brown was pivotal down the stretch for the Stags, scoring nine points, all from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, and securing key defensive rebounds to seal the victory. Lauren Beach added seven points and nine rebounds for Fairfield, while Jelena Bulajic provided a spark off the bench for South Florida with eight points.

The game was part of a multi-team event in Las Vegas. South Florida will look to rebound quickly against UCLA on Saturday, also at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Fairfield, riding the momentum of its perfect start, will face a formidable test against North Carolina at the same venue on Saturday.