FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Behind 22 points and 15 rebounds from Taryn Johnson, Fairfield University defeated the Canisius College women's basketball team 55-43 at Alumni Hall on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Griffins fall to 8-9 overall and 2-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Junior Ashley Durham had 17 points and six rebounds, leading the team in both categories. Sophomore Jamie Ruttle and freshman Kayla Hoohuli had nine points apiece.

"We continue to struggle with finishing possessions on the defensive ends and then making poor decisions on the offensive end that lead to unforced turnovers," Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. "We held Fairfield to a pretty good shooting percentage, but can't get over that hump of really grinding and battling for entire possessions."

Fairfield (12-5, 5-1 MAAC) would build a 20-12 lead midway through the first half, going 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the opening 10 minutes. The Griffs cut the lead in half after a 3-pointer from Hoohuli and a free throw from Durham. The Stags then scored eight straight points and would take a 33-20 lead into the locker room.  

The Griffs quickly cut the lead to seven in the first two minutes of the second half as Ruttle made two 3-pointers and Durham made two free throws to make it 35-28. Canisius could never get any closer throughout that second half, cutting the Fairfield lead to seven points on a number of occasions. Down 43-36 with 10 minutes left, the Griffs forced the Stags into three missed 3-pointers, but Fairfield grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds on the possession and finally got a layup from Brittany MacFarlane. Fairfield held Canisius without a point for four and a half minutes to put the game away.

Johnson went 18-for-24 from the free-throw line in leading the Stags in scoring. Alexys Vazquez had 14 points, going 4-for-6 on 3-pointers.

Canisius returns home to face rival Niagara University in the KAC on ESPN3 on Thursday night. Tipoff for the Battle of the Bridge contest is set for 6 p.m.

Tickets are still available for the doubleheader with the Golden Griffin men's basketball team and can be purchased at 716-888-2885.

Notes: Canisius lost to Fairfield for the fifth straight meeting for the third consecutive year at Alumni Hall... Hoohuli was the first Canisius freshman to play the entire 40 minutes since Feb. 19, 1994, (Heather Fiore and Mimi LaMagna)... Canisius held a 24-14 advantage on points in the paint but Fairfield had a 20-7 advantage in points off turnovers and 13-7 advantage on second-chance points... The five assists for Canisius were a season low and the first time this season Canisius didn't have double-digit assists... Canisius shot 37.2 percent from the field, the first time in nine games the Griffs didn't show 40 percent from the floor... Canisius lost for the first time this season when holding its opponent under 60 points.