FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Fairfield opened up a ten-point halftime lead and defeated the Tigers, 69-55 in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitational on Thursday evening. Towson (15-16) was competing in postseason play for the first time in the program's Division I history.

"We had some turnovers that came at inconvenient times and we did not play consistently," said Coach Joe Mathews.

Fairfield opened up a 7-2 lead after Stephanie Geehan hit a jumper at 18:04. Towson responded with an 8-2 run to take a 10-9 lead with 14:08 to play in the half. Four of the Tigers' eight points came from Katrina Wheeler. The Stags scored nine unanswered points to lead 18-10 with 8:57 in the half. Fairfield's lead would fluctuate between five and nine points over the next several minutes. Kandace Davis connected on a lay-up at 4:06 and the Tigers trailed by just five, 26-21. Fairfield would end the half on an 8-3 run to take a 34-24 lead at the break.

After Geehan hit a three-pointer to open the second half, Shanae Baker-Brice connected on a jumper. That bucket jump started a 9-2 Tigers' run and made it a 39-33 game with 15:28 to play. That was as close as the Tigers would get the rest of the way. Desiree Pina converted a three-point play at 12:50 to put the home team up 44-33. The two teams traded buckets over the next three minutes. Meredith Kennedy sunk her second trey of the game at 8:40 to cut the Tigers' deficit to 51-43. Fairfield closed the game on an 18-12 game to seal the victory. The Stags were 13-for-15 from the foul line over the final eight minutes to help their cause.

Wheeler led the Tigers with 10 points and seven rebounds while Baker-Brice had nine points, seven rebounds and four assists. Davis added seven points and seven rebounds while Haliena Snowden led the Tigers on the boards with eight and seven points.

Fairfield placed four of its five starters in double figures led by Geehan's 24 points. She would add 10 rebounds for the "double-double" and five blocked shots. Pina finished with 14 points and six assists. Taryn Johnson had 11 points and seven rebounds while Katelyn Linney contributed 10 points.

Towson loses Baker-Brice, Davis, Snowden, Wheeler and Ashlee Keown to graduation but return nine letter-winners next season.

-- TIGERS --