Fairfield women thump Quinnipiac 76-53 to win MAAC Tournament, earn spot in NCAA Tournament

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Quinnipiac’s Ella O’Donnell, right, looks to shoot against Fairfield’s Izabela Nicoletti Leite, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Quinnipiac’s Gal Raviv, left, shoots the 3-pointer over Fairfield’s Kaety L’Amoreaux, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield’s Kaety L’Amoreaux, left, celebrates with Meghan Andersen during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament against Quinnipiac, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield’s Raiana Brown, second from right, grabs the loose ball from Quinnipiac’s Ella O’Donnell, second from left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Quinnipiac’s Ella O’Donnell, left, shoots against Fairfield’s Raiana Brown, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield head coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis waves the net around following the NCAA college basketball game against Quinnipiac in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield places their logo on the March Madness ticket following the NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament against Quinnipiac, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield’s Kaety L’Amoreaux reacts to her 3-point shot during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Quinnipiac in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield’s Kaety L’Amoreaux, right, waves as she and Jillian Huerter, left, play with the confetti following the NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament against Quinnipiac, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield’s Izabela Nicoletti Leite, left, shoots as teammates Emina Selimovic (23) and Kaety L’Amoreaux, second from right, celebrate and Quinnipiac’s Grace LaBarge, right, looks on at the end an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield’s Meghan Andersen shoots a three pointer during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament against Quinnipiac, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield’s Kaety L’Amoreaux, right, reacts to being fouled as she drives to the basket against Quinnipiac’s Gal Raviv, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield’s Kaety L’Amoreaux, left, drives to the basket against Quinnipiac’s Gal Raviv, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. Fairfield won 76-53. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield’s Izabela Nicoletti Leite, left, Emina Selimovic, center left, and Kaety L’Amoreaux, center right, celebrate the win as Quinnipiac’s Grace LaBarge, right, walks back to her bench following the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield’s Kaety L’Amoreaux, left, is lifted by assistant coach Blake DuDonis, right, following the NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament against Quinnipiac, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield lifts up the MAAC trophy following the NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament against Quinnipiac, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

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Fairfield poses for a photo following the NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament against Quinnipiac, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Meghan Andersen scored 12 of her 27 points in a dominant second quarter and Sydni Scott scored 18 on 6-for-6 shooting from 3-point range as Fairfield cruised to a 76-53 victory over Quinnipiac in the championship game of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday, earning the Stags their sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament.

It was the second straight tournament title for Fairfield (28-4). The Stags have made three of their six trips to the NCAA Tournament in the last four years. No. 2 seed Quinnipiac (28-4) handed Fairfield its only loss since Dec. 15 with a victory in the regular-season finale. The Bobcats had a 12-game win streak end.

After a 15-all tie in the first quarter, Andersen took over. She made 4 of 6 shots with three 3-pointers and added her only free throw to help Fairfield outscore the Bobcats 26-11 for a 41-26 advantage at halftime. Kaety L’Amoreaux had the first two baskets of the quarter Andersen followed with a 3-pointer and a three-point play and the Stags’ lead was never threatened from there. Gal Raviv scored eight for Quinnipiac on 3-for-9 shooting while her teammates made 1 of 4 shots in the second period.

Andersen, a sophomore, made 10 of 15 shots from the floor, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. She added five rebounds. Scott, a junior, matched her career high with the six 3-pointers and hadn’t made more than three in any game this season. L’Amoreaux pitched in with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Raviv scored 17 on 6-for-22 shooting for the Bobcats. She added six rebounds and five assists. Anna Foley scored 10.

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