B Section

B-Section

Sports

Basketball preview 2017-2018

Page 1

Your 2017-2018 preview of

Fairfield University Men’s and Women’s Basketball Brought to you by Alfredo Torres, Daniel Montgomery, Christopher Lazazzera & Patrick Getz Cover Design by Alfredo Torres Photos by Alfredo Torres

Tyler Nelson ‘18

Samantha Cooper ‘18 Seniors Leading Stags Atop MAAC -Read about Tyler Nelson ‘18 on Page 11

- Read about Samantha Cooper ‘18 on Page 11

Sports

Basketball preview 2017-2018

Page 2

Men Look To Pass The Hump & Win MAAC Tournament

By Daniel Montomery Assistant Sports Editor

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Jerome Segura (top) will once again run the show for the Stags as they enter the season with another talented bunch.

Fresh off a 16-15 season that saw the Stags bow out in the first round of both the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament and the College Insider Tournament, the red and white have reloaded and are poised to take the conference by storm.

Last year’s campaign was highlighted by the Stags’ victory over Atlantic Coast Conference foe Boston College when they took down the Eagles 89-83 at Mohegan Sun Arena. In a nationally-televised game, the Stags won their first game over an ACC opponent in the program’s 53-year history of playing Division 1 basketball Led by the play of Tyler Nelson ‘18, a First Team All-MAAC selection a year ago and the 2017 MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, Fairfield has a star that can catapult this group to the top of the league. Nelson averaged 19.5 points per contest last year and will most likely finish the season as one of the top three scorers in Fairfield basketball’s illustrious history.

Unfortunately, Fairfield lost two of its young backcourt players this offseason due to the transfer epidemic as sophomores Curtis Cobb and Jerry Johnson Jr. departed to the University of Massachusetts and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, respectively. Most fans will remember Cobb’s unbelievable game against Manhattan when the guard broke the Fairfield single-game scoring record as he went for 46 points against the Jaspers.

Nelson’s fellow backcourt mate Jerome Segura ‘18 also experienced a nice season as the shifty point man tallied a career-high of 17 points against Sacred Heart in the season opener. Segura also led the Stags in assists at 4.1 helpers per game.

Juniors Matija Milin and Jonathan Kasibabu manned the paint last season with Milin posting 8.3 points per game and Kasibabu putting up 6.3 points per game. Both players average over four rebounds per contest as well.

Both will have to pick up the slack in the rebounding category this year as Amadou Sidibe ‘17 graduated last spring after leading the team with 9.3 rebounds per game.

Not to be forgotten, Fairfield finished second overall in the conference in scoring defense and looks to continue their stout defensive efforts into the 20172018 campaign.

The red and white begin this season on Saturday, Nov. 11 when they take on Pennsylvania at 1 p.m. at Webster Bank Arena.

Revamped Stags Lineup Brings New Style of Play

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor The 2016-2017 edition of the Stags was one that saw the departure of two of the best players in Fairfield program history, Casey Smith ‘17 and Kelsey Carey ‘17. Smith and Carey averaged 15.1 and 12.3 points respectively as they led the Stags to a 17-14 record on the year.

Fairfield’s top returning player is Samantha Cooper ‘18, who garnered both Metro Atlantic Athletic Player of the Week and National Jesuit Player of the Week last year for her performance in a string of games in early January.

Cooper averaged 10.3 points per game last season and led the team with 8.2 caroms per contest.

The backcourt tandem of Kendra Landy ‘19 and Casey Foley ‘19 are the second and third returning scorers behind Cooper.

Landy averaged 4.4 points per game while finishing second on the team in assists.

Foley averaged 3.5 points per game and led the team in both the assists and steals category as the squad’s most energetic player.

Senior Macey Hollenshead and Sam Kramer ‘20 also contributed in the backcourt last year as each guard played an integral role in the team’s success.

Hollenshead started in 26 of the team’s 31 games and posted 3.1 points per game while knocking down nearly 74 percent of her free throws. Kramer put up 2.8 points per game on the season in her first

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror The Fairfield University Women’s Basketball Team is ready to take the court again and take on the MAAC with a combination of veteran experience and youth.

campaign in the red and white, while also leading the squad in three-point percentage at a 35.3 percent clip.

With many players returning who played meaningful minutes

last season, Fairfield is poised to be a team to be reckoned with in the MAAC. Head coach Joe Frager hopes to lead the group to another stellar season with this edition of the

Stags topping the 17 wins of last year.

With Cooper taking the reigns as the team’s go-to player, there is much excitement around the possibilities that this year’s team brings.

Fairfield begins their season on Nov. 10 when they welcome the Richmond Spiders to Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport for a 7 p.m. tip off.

Basketball preview 2017-2018

Sports

Page 3

Getting To Know Fairfield Basketball’s Fresh Faces Sam Lewis Guard Elkridge, Md. Q: What was your first impression when you saw Fairfield University?

SL: “My first impression of Fairfield was that it was a beautiful school and a very friendly environment, and [that] I could definitely see myself going to school here.”

Q: Who do you model your game after?

SL: “I don’t think I have a specific player I model my game after, I just go out and play like I was taught and try to be the best I can be. But my favorite player to watch is Steph Curry.”

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration on-and-off the court?

SL: “My biggest inspiration on-and-off the court is my trainer Rome Holley. He has helped me develop into the player and person I am today by teaching me and helping me learn the game, but also by teaching me valuable life lessons.”

Q: What are your individual and team goals this season?

SL: My individual goals this season is to continually bring intensity and energy in practice to help me and my teammates get better. I think our team goals this season is to just leave it all on the court everyday and push ourselves to be better so we can win as many games as possible. I think if we put our minds to it and play as one team we can accomplish great things.”

Kevin Senghore-Peterson

Forward Prolunda, Sweden Q: Before coming to Fairfield you played in the Swedish national team program, talk about what that was like?

KSP: “It was nice playing against international competition and the best players in my age group. I saw how good I was compared to them.”

Q: How did that experience prepare you for basketball at Fairfield?

KSP:”I found out that there was Croatian players, Serbian players and not just Swedish players. This made me realize that I have to be better than what I am.”

Q: What made you choose Fairfield over other schools?

KSP: “The chemistry amongst coaches and players was great, it was like a big family, It is something that I wanted to be a part of.”

Q: What was the atmosphere like playing in the first couple exhibition games at Alumni Hall?

KSP: “The first game was nerve-wracking because I am used to playing in front of parents but now it is a lot more. It was a cool scene.great things.”

Aziz Sultan Essa Forward

Molly Bauer Forward

Abu Al Hasany, Kuwait

Connellsville, Penn.

Q: How has your first year at Fairfield been so far?

ASE: So far it has been great. I have been here since the summer. We went on our trip to Italy so that helped us create a bond, and now we have been working hard getting ready for the season.

Q: Can you talk about the relationship you have with your teammates and your coaches here?

ASE: It is incredible. The team is very diverse and you have a lot of different countries and personalities. Getting to know everybody has been great.

Q: What do you look to bring to the table this year?

ASE: I just want to be a great teammate and work as hard as I can. I just want to make sure I am doing whatever I can do to make the team win.

Q: How important is it for you do reach your goals especially for the seniors?

ASE: This is really important, especially the way coach has been stressing it. It would be great for the seniors and also for the younger guys who will be gaining more experience for the years to come.

Q: With the season opener coming up on Saturday, how are you feeling?

ASE: It is going to be a great environment. It is going to be my first time playing at [the] Webster Bank Arena, so there will be a lot of excitement. We have a couple exhibition games under our belt so hopefully we can fix our mistakes and implement the improvements we have made.

Q: How did you first get introduced to Fairfield and what were your thoughts?

MB: I was first introduced to Fairfield University when coach David called me a year ago. When I looked the school up on the internet I did not believe what I saw. The school looked absolutely gorgeous. When I came to visit, it was just as I pictured it and I knew that this would be my home for the next four years.

Q: How has it been juggling both academics and athletics?

MB: The juggling of athletics and academics is rough at first but once you get the hang of it then it gets better. It takes a lot of time management skills and a lot of commitment to be able to do both but I think I’m starting to get the hang of things.

Q: How have the upperclassmen and coaches helped you adjust to life at Fairfield?

MB: The upperclassman and the coaches here are absolutely lovely. The girls took me in like I was their sister and they would do anything for me without hesitating. The coaches helped me out a lot with working through things and making my transition smooth. The coaches and the girls really help me out with whatever I need.

Q: What are you most excited about this season?

MB: The thing that I am most excited for this season is to see all of the team’s hardworking come together and I can’t wait to see our team succeed. It is going to be a great season.

Photos Contributed by Sports Information Desk

Basketball preview 2017-2018

Sports

Page 4

Junior Guards Lead the Charge

Contributed by Sports Information Desk Kendra Landy (left) and Casey Foley (right) figure to be key pieces in the Stags lineup this year. Both guards will use their experience to lead Fairfield’s crop of young, talented players on the roster.

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor The backbone of any successful basketball team is a solid backcourt. Guards are the players who handle the pace of the game and control their team right from the tip. Juniors Casey Foley and Kendra Landy are ready to take the next step together as backcourt mates this year as the veteran guards will be key pieces on a young Fairfield team.

Foley enters her third year in the red and white after a successful sophomore campaign that saw her lead the team with 3.2 assists per game and lead the entire Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a turnover ratio of 2.1.

Landy on the other hand came out late in the year when she started Fairfield’s last five games and averaged 8.4 points per game during those contests. On Jan. 4 against Monmouth, she had a career-high of eight assists.

Both players know that as experienced players on this

squad, they are looked up to by those who are eager to pick their basketball brains.

“I take pride in my leadership,” Foley said. “Our upperclassmen this year are doing a really good job at leading so that is going to be another important aspect. We have a lot of new kids this year so it is going to be important for us to bring them along.”

Last year, Fairfield had Casey Smith ‘17 and Kelsey Carey ‘17 to lean on when they needed a bucket, but this year, Foley and Landy are going to be two of the many different options the Stags have to fill it up.

“We need to figure out who the people we are going to look for in crucial moments for scoring and who is going to be calm with the ball in pressure situations,” Landy said. “It is going to come from a lot of different people this year.”

If there was one aspect of the game the Stags really struggled with last year, it was their defense. But things look as though they will be different this year as Foley leads a feisty

defensive attack from the guard spot.

“I take a lot of pride in my defense and our team’s defense,” Foley said. “It is a really important part of the game and it is going to be a key part of us winning this year. I am just trying to be the best leader I can this year to help us be a top defensive team.”

With multiple scoring options and a much-improved defense, the ceiling seems quite high for this year’s edition of the Stags. Foley and Landy cannot wait to take the court and show the chemistry this team has.

“It is going to be a fun year. We all get along really well,” Landy said. “We are best friends on-and-off the court. Our playing style is going to be a lot of run-and-gun. I am excited to be getting back on the court.”

Fairfield starts the year Friday, Nov. 10 when they welcome the Richmond Spiders to Webster Bank Arena for a 7 p.m. tip off.

Benning Soars Into First Year At Fairfield

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror

First-year Taj Benning was born to play college basketball. Coming from Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey, Benning has played against big-time competition from the moment he stepped on the court his freshman year. Now as he readies to take the court at Webster Bank Arena for the first time on Saturday, Nov. 11 wearing the red and white, Benning is prepared for the challenge.

In his high school days, his development was guided by head coach Billy Armstrong, who helped the freshman become the person he is on and off the court.

“My high school coach played at Davidson for Bob McKillop,” he said. “I learned a lot from him about life and about basketball and what I learned from him prepared me for the beginning of my college career.”

As he showed in high school, Benning’s-size as a guard is something that Fairfield looks to take advantage of against smaller guards in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

“I am a big point guard and a leader out there. I play hard and I am competitive and gritty,” Benning said. “I look to bring toughness and heart. I want to be someone who comes in and competes every day.”

Speaking of competition, Benning receives plenty of tests in practice playing against star guards Tyler Nelson ‘18 and Jerome Segura ‘18 as well as Jared Harper ‘18. As a point guard, Benning has looked up to both players for help as he looks to man the backcourt similar to the way Nelson and Segura have for the past three seasons.

“Jerome has helped me on the court and off the court. Same with Tyler and Jared,” Benning said. “In practice they push me as hard as they can so I feel like when I step on the court with other guys there is nothing I have not seen before.”

Head coach Sydney Johnson is going to look for Benning to handle the ball this year and use his length on the defensive end to wreak havoc. Like many of his teammates, Benning’s well-roundedness will give the Stags many different looks on the court to matchup against other teams.

“This team is very versatile and we all play hard. We all care for each other and our common goals so we are going to be tough to stop this year,” said Benning.

The journey begins Saturday, Nov. 11 when the team welcomes Pennsylvania to Bridgeport for a 1 p.m. tip off at Webster Bank Arena.

Basketball preview 2017-2018

Sports

Page 5

The Mirror’s Projected Starting Five:

Men’s:

Women’s:

Jerome Segura ‘18 Point Guard

Tyler Nelson ‘18 Shooting Guard

Kendra Landy ‘19

Point Guard

Casey Foley ‘19 Shooting Guard

Jesus Cruz ‘21 Small Forward

Matija Milin ‘19 Power Forward

Jonathan Kasibabu ‘19 Center

Sam Kramer ‘19 Guard

Khadidiatou Diouf ‘19

Forward

Samantha Cooper ‘18

Forward

Photos Contributed by Sports Information Desk

Men’s Basketball 2017-18 Schedule Date:

Nov. 3 Nov. 11 Nov. 14 Nov. 18 Nov. 24 Nov. 25 Nov. 26 Dec. 1 Dec. 6 Dec. 10 Dec. 17 Dec. 22 Dec. 28 Dec. 30 Jan. 5 Jan. 7 Jan. 11 Jan. 13 Jan. 20 Jan. 23 Jan. 27 Jan. 29 Feb. 2 Feb. 5 Feb. 10 Feb. 12 Feb. 15 Feb. 17 Feb. 21 Feb. 24

Opponent:

Bridgeport 88-86(L) Pennsylvania Loyola (Md.) @Purdue Jacksonville Gardner-Webb Wright State @Wagner @Houston @LIU Brooklyn Old Dominion New Hampshire Saint Peter’s* @Manhattan* @Rider* @Iona* Manhattan* @Marist Niagara Rider* Quinnipiac* Iona College* @Monmouth Siena* @Niagara* @Canisius* Marist* Quinnipiac* @Siena* Monmouth*

Time:

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

Women’s Basketball 2017-18 Schedule Date:

Nov. 10 Nov. 14 Nov. 17 Nov. 21 Nov. 25 Nov. 26 Nov. 29 Dec. 3 Dec. 6 Dec. 11 Dec. 21 Dec. 29 Jan. 2 Jan. 5 Jan. 10 Jan. 13 Jan. 15 Jan. 20 Jan. 22 Jan. 27 Jan. 29 Feb. 2 Feb. 4 Feb. 8 Feb. 10 Feb. 14 Feb. 17 Feb. 19 Feb. 23 Feb. 25

Opponent:

Richmond @William & Mary @Northeastern Mount St. Mary’s (Md.) @Lehigh La Salle/New Hampshire UMASS Lowell @Boston College Villanova @Rhode Island @Seton Hall @Canisius* Niagara* Monmouth* Rider* @Marist* Saint Peter’s* @Quinnipiac* @Siena* @Rider* Niagara* Quinnipiac* Manhattan* @Iona* @Manhattan* Marist* Siena* @Saint Peter’s* @Monmouth* Iona*

Photos Contributed by Sports Information Desk

Time:

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

TBA 7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

7:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

3:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

* Denotes a MAAC game

Stags Front Court Poised For Success Basketball preview 2017-2018

Sports

Page 8

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Juniors Jonathan Kasibabu (left) and Matija Milin (right) have proven to be huge assets in the frontcourt for the Stags in their first two years in the red and white. They look to continue their success as juniors.

By Patrick Getz Contributing Writer A lot of attention is buzzing around the Fairfield Stags Men’s basketball team as their season kicks off Saturday, Nov. 11 against the University of Pennsylvania. Senior Tyler Nelson is getting a lot of that attention, but two other key members of the Stags’ success are Jonathan Kasibabu ‘19 and Matija Milin ‘19. These two big men are looking to solidify the Stags offense as well as defense. Kasibabu is looking to become the leader and main inside presence while Milin, also a leader, is looking to become that deep offensive threat that creates mismatches.

Now being a junior, Kasibabu wants to lead this team to victories. He also wants to guide his teammates. However, he realizes the team involves more than just himself.

“It’s never about me. It’s always about the team. Being the captain, it’s just a title. Since I walked in here, I have been exposed to this idea that you can be a leader just by helping the one next to you. You can be a leader by example,” said Kasibabu.

As a presence inside the paint, the Dominican Republic of Congo native knows how to be efficient. Taking the smartest shot is always in his best interest.

“I don’t take any unnecessary shots. I believe in the easy buckets. If the next man is open, that’s what we are about, just sharing the ball,” he said. “It’s better to share the ball because it may come back to you and get an easy bucket.”

Even though nine of the 16 players on the Fairfield Stags squad are first-years, Kasibabu, as a leader, wants to do his best to make the most impact on them.

“There are a lot of fresh faces and everything, but the great part about it is that they are great at following. They are not arrogant and they listen to the coaches as well as the upperclassmen. That makes it easy for me to talk to them, to lead them and show them,” said the captain.

One goal on not only on the 6-foot-8-inch forward’s mind, but the entire men’s team is to bring home a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship. He knows how hard the seniors have worked, such as Jerome Segura, Tyler Nelson and Jared Harper, as they now enter their final season.

“Especially for Jerome, Tyler and Jared, I have never seen these three guys putting in so much effort daily, coming in on their own time and shooting the ball. By giving so much

heart, they are leading by example,” said Kasibabu. “Us seeing that makes us want to bring home a championship for them. We are playing for us, obviously, but we want to give the seniors a ring before they leave.”

Another big man for the Stags looking for a breakout year is the 6-foot-9-inch Milin.

From Belgrade, Serbia, Milin looks to build off his sophomore campaign where he averaged 8.3 points per game and a .483 field goal percentage, the third best on the team.

“I have seen myself grow in the past three years. I have become more comfortable with knowing my team and stepping into a leadership position. I want to be an example for those younger guys,” said Milin.

The outside game is what makes the forward effective. He is always looking at improving his perimeter shot. “ ‘Just make open shots’ is one of the keys that coach tells me every day. I feel like I have to start being a guy who guides the team or that guy that’s able to finish those last possessions,” said Milin.

Milin looks to this year as a building block for his offensive performances. He wants to surpass that scoring average he recorded just a year ago.

“I hope my offensive ability will increase this year but everything is about the team.

If I don’t manage to average the same amount of points, I just hope we do well,” said the forward.

Much like Kasibabu, Milin sees these nine fresh faces and wants to help groom them into successful Fairfield basketball players.

“I hope to lead them well and this is not my first time being the oldest on the team. It’s nothing new to me but I hope to execute it well,” said the junior.

Milin shares the same positivity as Kasibabu does when it comes to making a run at the MAAC title. “I feel like our starting five is really experienced. We already know what we need to do and how to approach the MAAC. We need our young guys to learn the same thing. Also, winning the MAAC is one of our key goals and we want [to] represent the school in the best way,” said Milin.

Sydney Johnson, head coach for the Stags, is surely excited to have Kasibabu and Milin at the forefront of his big men. Having two weapons such as these players adds a different dimension when competing for a MAAC championship. This is the time for these two juniors to make a direct impact and guide these nine freshmen. This is their team now.

Khadidiatou Diouf ‘19 Looks To Breakout Junior Year

By Christopher Lazazzera Contributing Writer Traveling has been a big part of Khadidiatou Diouf ’s ‘19 basketball career. Coming from Senegal, she then went to Lake Forest Academy and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Not appearing in any games at IUPUI, Diouf was in search of a place she finally felt at home. Fairfield University became that place as she transferred here for the 2015-2016 basketball season.

Playing sparingly in her first year due to National Collegiate Athletic Association transfer rules, she showed signs of greatness during her second year. Diouf had a career-high 14 points at Mount St. Mary on Nov. 20 and scored six points in eight minutes at La Salle in early December.

This 2017-2018 season Diouf feels like her past experiences will help her excel immensely. “I learned a lot from the seniors last year. They pushed me to really work harder. I feel like I need to step up and play a bigger role,” said Diouf. The Stags will be looking for a lot of players like Diouf to put the ball in the basket as their top two scorers, Kelsey Carey ‘17 and Casey Smith ‘17, graduated this past summer.

Along with scoring, the Stags will need players to be leaders for the incoming freshmen on the team. Diouf was proud to say how she enjoys helping the younger players. “I know coming in freshman are always scared to make mistakes. That’s why I always try to talk to our freshman and give them advice about how to remember plays, work harder and communicate,” she said. “I know what it’s like to come in as the new girl, that’s why I always try and help.”

Diouf reiterated how there are a lot of expectations and goals for this season. The Stags won their first game in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament last season before being bounced by Rider 49-36 on March 5. The ultimate accomplishment this season will be to get to the MAAC championship. “A lot of people talk about how young we are but I think the team is full of talent. If we put all our talents together we will be a great team,” Diouf said. “It’s not always about the beginning of the season because no team is perfect at the beginning. It’s always about the end, the MAAC Championship.”

Diouf and the Fairfield University Women’s Basketball team look to have a breakout 2017 season. If you don’t believe me, ask the 6-foot-3-inch forward and she’ll enthusiastically tell you herself.

Contributed by Sports Information Desk

Sports

Basketball preview 2017-2018

Page 9

Stag Spotlight: Getting to Know First-Year Guard Jesus Cruz

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Jesus Cruz has extra motivation this season as he plays for his home country of Puerto Rico after the recent hurricane.

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor From the beautiful island of Puerto Rico to the beautiful campus of Fairfield University, Jesus Cruz ‘21 has come a long way from his hometown roots. Cruz is one of the many new faces joining the Stags this season. Before arriving to Fairfield, Cruz had built himself quite the resume.

Most notably, Cruz is recently coming off a successful stint with Puerto Rico at the International Basketball Federation U-19 tournament, where he helped his team to a top ten finish in the tournament while finishing eighth in scoring with a 13.4 scoring average and finishing second in steals during the tournament. When talking about his experience, Cruz said “it was pretty cool, it was a great experience. Been doing that for the last four summers and it’s probably been the peak of my life to be able to wear my country’s colors and play for my beautiful island.”

Before arriving at Fairfield, Cruz had a couple of pit stops on the road that he had to make.

He attended St. Francis School in Puerto Rico, followed by enrolling to Immaculata-LaSalle High School in Miami. Following his stay at LaSalle, Cruz spent one more year at the Loomis Chaffee school where he played his final season of basketball before becoming a Stag.

It’s always tough for someone especially from an outside country, to pick a school and call it home.

But for Cruz, the decision was easy as he jumped at the opportunity to come to Fairfield. “It was the only school that really gave me an opportunity to play basketball and have a great education. So I’m really thankful for that, thankful for coach Sydney Johnson and the staff for giving me an opportunity to represent this great institution,” said Cruz.

Joining a new team, a new system and even a new state can pose problems. But for Cruz the transition has been smooth as he has enjoyed his time so far as a Stag. “It’s been great, I thought the transition was going to be a little more difficult but I’ve been able to make a smooth transition. I like it here, I love it, I love my teammates, love the coaching staff, love the environment. It’s just been a great transition,” said Cruz enthusiastically.

Cruz was able to display his talents on the court on Oct. 23 when the Stags hosted an exhibition game against Hofstra University. Cruz finished with 12 points, three rebounds and a steal in a 94-78 victory. Although it was his collegiate debut, the matchup against Hofstra meant much more as it was also a charity game to help support victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Maria, two natural disasters that affected

Houston, Texas and Puerto Rico, respectively. All of the proceeds from the game benefitted the Save the Children, a Fairfield-based organization that has helped many who have endured recent hurricanes and their aftermath.

Puerto Rico has a special spot in Cruz’s heart. When speaking about his home country Cruz said, “just trying to raise awareness of what’s happening, I donated myself. I tried to get people to donate through social media and just giving support to all my family and friends. The game against Hofstra was like a great opportunity for that as well, so just trying to battle any natural disaster against any country or any place.”

Cruz looks to contribute immediately to the Stags when the season starts this Saturday, Nov. 11 against the University of Pennsylvania. As a freshman, Cruz is looking to help the team by “learning really, getting to know how the college game is played. I think I can bring a nice level of defense, some outside shooting and some scoring when needed,” said Cruz.

Cruz, along with the running Stags, have one goal in mind, the same goal that has been a part of the Fairfield mission. “Just MAAC Championships,” said Cruz. With all the new faces the Stags are introducing this year, look for Cruz to make an impact in his first year and contribute for years to come.

Contributed by Sports Information Desk

Catching Up with Kristen McLaughlin ‘18

By Daniel Montgomery Assistant Sports Editor

Q: Reflecting now back on your years at Fairfield, how has being a Stag helped you grow athletically and personally?

KM: Your team becomes your family and all of these girls have become family to me. It is even more so with women’s basketball as we are here over the summer and we get to spend so much time together throughout the year. I think the relationships I have made with the girls has really cultivated me into the human I am today and it is a pretty awesome thing.

Q: Headed into your last season, what kind of impact do you expect to have on the team this season?

KM: It is hitting me now that this is my last ever chance to make an impact. Senior year of high school it never really hit me quite like it is now because I knew I was going to play college basketball. Now I know this is do or die and the last chance I have. I have been coming into every practice and every game with the mentality that this could be the last time ever playing and I look to continue to do that.

Q: From a team standpoint, what expectations do you have this year for the group?

KM: Personally, I have very high expectations for us. We are a young team with a new offense but I really think we have something to prove and we have a lot of talent on this team. I have high standards for us and I hope we meet those standards.

Q: Up until now, what has been your favorite memory in the time you have worn the red and white?

KM: I would say beating Quinnipiac last year. It was a great memory. That was awesome, so hopefully we can have memories of winning games like that again this year.

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror

Basketball preview 2017-2018

Sports

Page 10

Senior Jerome Segura Looks To Lead The Running Stags

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor Four years go by quicker than you expect — Jerome Segura ‘18 can vouch for that. In his time at Fairfield, the Houston native has made a tremendous impact on the team, racking up several notable awards and making several strides in his game. Now in his final season at Fairfield, Segura looks to lead the young herd of Stags to success in the 2016-2017 campaign.

Segura has come a long way from his first year, as Segura has established himself as a force with the rock, dishing and swishing, while proving to be a pest on defense. Segura is coming off his best season as a Stag as he finished his junior campaign with the sixth best assist per game average in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, dishing off 4.1 per game. The guard registered a team best 122 assists last season, bringing his career total to 346. Segura also ranked 11th in the MAAC with a +1.6 assist to turnover ratio.

Through three years at Fairfield, Segura has enjoyed much success while establishing lifelong relationships. “It’s been a great time, just learning and growing as a person off the court. I’ve met a lot of great people that I’ve made good connections with and on the court, it’s been good. Basketball’s been great to me, just hopefully we can win this MAAC Championship in my senior year,” said Segura.

Segura’s role has definitely changed from when he first stepped onto the court at Fairfield. Reflecting on how far he’s come since freshman year, Segura said, “It feels good, just going through the whole process of being a freshman to here now, it’s a lot of changes.”

With seven freshmen joining the squad, Segura knows that he must serve as a leader for the younger guys. “I embrace the leadership role a lot, helping the young guys grow because I’ve been in their spots and I know how difficult it is to play a college basketball game so anything I can do and teach to be successful on the court is good,” said Segura.

Segura’s role is not only to lead the freshman class but along with Tyler Nelson ‘18, the two most experienced players at Fairfield, both senior guards must work together to lead this young team in the right direction. “Just be positive, we have a lot of young guys so I have to be hard on them but at the same time steering them in the right direction because this is their first year and I remember I was lost in my freshman [year], so just making sure they stay on the right track,” said Segura.

The Stags are coming off a season that saw them finish with a 16-15 overall record, going 11-9 in conference play. The Stags looked to make a strong postseason push but unfortunately were knocked out by conference foe Siena in the MAAC Quarterfinals. The team that was on the court then is completely different than this year’s squad as the Stags lost a couple players due to graduation and some who transferred out. Segura understands that this year’s team is different, saying “we have a lot of chemistry here, everyone likes each other and we all play hard for each other. We have a lot of talent, the young guys can really play and help us. We have a lot of diversity on the team and a lot of guys can play a lot of positions.”

For Segura, the expectations are as clear as glass. After three years at Fairfield, Segura is still chasing that illustrious championship ring. With one Alfredo Torres/The Mirror season remaining in his collegiate career, Segura knows that now is the time.

Jerome Segura enters his final season as the Stags starting point guard.

The quick, savvy assist man is ready for his Segura’s goals are simple, “to be regular season champions and win the ring in best season yet as he dons the red and white once again.

The Houston native wants to leave a legacy at Fairfield.

March,” said Segura.

Q&A With Jared Harper ‘18

Miller ‘17

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

Q: Four years have flown by here, what can you say about your time at Fairfield?

JH: “It’s been an incredible experience. I really enjoyed being on this team, playing with my best friends everyday and just meeting new people, experiencing new things. It’s been great.”

Q: What can you say about the relationship you’ve established with your teammates and your coaches here?

JH “Since freshman year we’ve just gotten a lot closer, especially the people in my grade, Jerome [Segura] and Tyler [Nelson]. It’s been a pleasure being best friends with them and [my] teammates, and with my coaches. There’s been coaching changes over the years but just being able to get to know coach Johnson a lot better, I feel like we’ve gotten a lot closer and the other assistant coaches too, I feel like I’ve gotten a lot closer to over the years.”

Q: It’s your final season now, what do you expect to do this year?

JH: “Do whatever I can to help the team win, just trying to help the young guys out; being a senior I got to help lead and just doing whatever it takes to win.”

Q: What are your team’s expectations this year?

JH: Win a championship, that’s what especially Jerome, Tyler and I [want].

We’ve been wanting to win a championship since freshman year. So we’re going to try to help the team do whatever we can to make that happen.

Q:How important is senior leadership for this team?

JH: “It’s really important this year because we have a lot of young guys and a lot of new players too. We’ve been there before so we need to be able to show them the ropes and be able to lead the team.”

Contributed by Sports Information Desk

Basketball preview 2017-2018

Sports

Page 11

Tyler Nelson‘18 Looks to Continue Fairfield’s Success

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Tyler Nelson has made quite a name for himself during his time at Fairfield. With so many accolades under his belt, the sharpshooter is ready to add a MAAC Tournament ring to his collection.

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor When the lights of Webster Bank Arena shine the brightest, there is always that one player that rises to the occasion.

For the last three years, that person has been guard Tyler Nelson ‘18. Through three seasons of work, Nelson has built himself quite the resume in his time as a Fairfield Stag, receiving several notable awards and even joining illustrious names in the Fairfield record books.

Nelson got his first taste of success back in his rookie campaign when he earned a spot on the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All Rookie team after a solid first year at Fairfield. He also earned a spot in the All MAAC team following the conclusion of his sophomore year.

Nelson is coming off his best season thus far as a Stag as he finished the season as the conference leading scorer with a 19.5 scoring average. He also ranked fifth in the conference for free throw percentage, finishing with a mark of .856 and ninth in assists with 2.6 per game. Nelson joined the illustrious 1,000-point club last season and raised his career total to 1,440 points, which is within reach of Fairfield’s all-time leading scorer Tony George ‘86 who holds the record of 2,006 points in his collegiate career.

Through three years, Nelson has enjoyed much success

at Fairfield. The experience has been a rollercoaster ride but it’s a ride that Nelson has found much enjoyment in. “It’s been great, been a lot of ups and downs but definitely more ups than downs. We’ve had some really good seasons here and I want to finish with another strong season,” said Nelson.

The Fairfield faithful is well aware of what Nelson brings to the table, but the MAAC is starting to take notice. On Oct. 24, during the MAAC preseason award show, Nelson was named the Preseason MAAC Player of the Year while also being a unanimous pick to the Preseason All-MAAC first team.

“Obviously it’s a great honor but it’s not like I won the award, so I still have to go out every night and prove that I deserve [it],” said the senior guard.

Nelson is no longer the freshman that first walked through the doors of the Walsh Athletic Center three years ago. He has worked diligently to mold his game and become a leader for the Stags. Now entering his fourth and final year, the senior looks to lead his team to the elusive promised land.

With several fresh faces joining the Stags roster, being a senior leader is as important as ever as Nelson looks to help mold the young Stags. “Obviously with the young guys leadership is really important so guys like me, Jerome [Segura ‘18], Jonathan [Kasibabu ‘19], Matija [Milin ‘19], guys that have been playing for three years, we have to help them along throughout the

season,” said Nelson.

The leader was once in the footsteps of these rookies and looks to lend a helping hand. “From freshman year to senior year, I think that I’ve grown a lot ... I came in freshman year, I was kind of quiet, did my own thing but now as a senior, who’s had the most experience on the team, I’m just trying to help the young guys and lead them,” said Nelson.

With one final season left in his collegiate career, Nelson looks to lead his team to new heights this season as he has high expectations for not just himself, but for his team as well.

The goal for the team has always been the same since Nelson first put on the red and white. “As a team, it’s the same goal as I’ve been here since freshman year and that’s to win the MAAC championship and individually, I want to win MAAC Player of the Year,” said Nelson.

As a team, “we want to get better everyday, we know it’s a long season but that MAAC championship is something that we’re really focused on, that’s what we talk about everyday,” said Nelson. Now in his final season, Nelson looks to end his career as a Stag on high note with a MAAC Championship and a National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament appearance, however, the road to championship glory is not an easy one, but with Nelson leading the way, the season looks bright for the Stags.

In Final Year At Fairfield, Seniors Strive To Finish Strong

By Alfredo Torres Sports Editor

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror Seniors Macey Hollenshead (top) and Samantha Cooper (bottom) look to capture that elusive MAAC title this season in their last year in the red and white. Both have ample experience on the hardwood.

Although they took two very different paths to Fairfield University, seniors Samantha Cooper and Macey Hollenshead know that the road is nearly coming to an unfortunate end as the duo enters its final season in the red and white.

Both are coming off a very successful season helping the Stags reach the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament, but unfortunately were bounced out by conference foe, the Rider Broncos in the semifinals by a final score of 49-36. The seniors are looking to rebound this season and end their careers as Stags on a high note.

Cooper is heading into her final season at Fairfield and is looking forward to leading this group of girls to success. Although a new and young team, Cooper looks to use this new youth movement to their advantage. “I’m really excited to go into my last year. We’re a different team this year for sure, we’re a lot younger but I don’t think that we should use that against us, instead I think we should use it to our advantage,” said Cooper. When describing the team’s new look, Cooper said, “we’re trying to run the ball more this year, so I think we should get more points in transition and that would help us for being a young team.”

This Fairfield team is not the same of years past as they are missing a couple of significant players. Due to graduation, the Stags lost Kelsey Carey ‘17, last season’s leading scorer with 15.1 points per game, Casey Smith ‘17, the Stags’ second leading scorer who finished with 12.3 per game and Kristine Miller ‘17, players who have been pivotal to head coach Joe Frager and the Stags’ success over the past couple of years.

Both Hollenshead and Cooper look to follow in their footprints and continue Fairfield’s success on the court.

Hollenshead knows that this year, she must pick up where they left off last year, not just her individually but as a team, “we lost a lot of scoring, so as a team we all have to step up, everybody’s got to contribute whether that be points or just distributing the ball. I would say all and all everybody just needs to step it up and take it more personal,” said Hollenshead.

The Stags are welcoming four freshmen to the team this year, making the number of undergraduates on the team eight. The team will look to depend on both Hollenshead and Cooper to show the young Stags what it truly means to play Fairfield basketball. As a senior leader, she knows she must help guide the young players on the team. “I think just keeping a positive outlook, trying not to make the lows too low and the highs too high, it’s a long season so just to keep that in mind and just make sure we’re ready to roll at the end of the season,” said Hollenshead.

With the season set to start on Nov. 10 against Richmond University, the Stags have a long road ahead of them before they can begin thinking about the MAAC championship. But for both Hollenshead and Cooper, the duo has high expectations for their team as they are always looking toward the bigger picture: a MAAC title. “I hope that we place top in the MAAC again and make it to the MAAC final championship game, that’s the ultimate goal,” said Cooper.

For the duo, this is their last opportunity at a championship ring and they will look to do whatever it takes to lead their team and win it all.

Basketball preview 2017-2018

Sports

Women’s 2017-18 Roster

Men’s 2017-18 Roster No.

Name

0

Olivier Cadieux ‘20

1

Page 12

Pos. No.

Name

Pos.

F

1

Katie Armstrong ‘20

G

Jerome Segura ‘18

G

2

Sam Kramer ‘20

G

2

Taj Benning ‘21

G

4

Erika Schlosser ‘20

G

3

Tyler Nelson ‘18

G

5

Macey Hollenshead ‘18

F

4

Jared Harper ‘18

G

11

Samantha Cooper ‘18

F

5

Aidas Kavaliauskas ‘20

G

12

Eden Nibbelink ‘21

G

10

Thomas Nolan ‘19

G

13

Khadidiatou Diouf ‘19

G

11

Alonde Legrand ‘21

F

14

Casey Foley ‘19

G

12

Kevin Senghore-Peterson ‘21

F

13

Jonathan Kasibabu ‘19

14

15 Kristen McLaughlin ‘18

G

F/C

20

Kendra Landy ‘19

F

Matija Milin ‘19

F

30

Sam Lewis ‘21

G

15

Wassef Methnani ‘21

F

40

Molly Bauer ‘21

F

23

Ferron Flavors Jr. ‘21

G

42

Jordan Frye

G

24

Jesus Cruz ‘21

G

30

Omar El-Sheikh ‘21

F

35

Aziz Sultan Essa ‘21

F

Back page design by Alfredo Torres

Alfredo Torres/The Mirror