Top-Contending Fairfield, Quinnipiac Set for MAAC Showdown HAMDEN, Conn. (Interstat) — A critical Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball rematch with first-place implications is set for Saturday when the Fairfield Stags visit the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Both teams enter with identical 21-4 overall records, having dominated league play. The matchup at TD Bank Sports Center is a swift turnaround from their Jan. 29 meeting, which Quinnipiac won 72-58 in Fairfield. That result gives the Bobcats the current head-to-head tiebreaker, adding urgency for the visiting Stags. Fairfield has won five straight since that loss, including an 82-46 rout of Iona and a 109-48 demolition of Marist earlier this month. Quinnipiac has also been rolling, winning nine consecutive games, with their last loss coming in non-conference play in December. A key matchup will feature two of the MAAC’s standout players. Fairfield’s Meghan Andersen, coming off a 17-point, 4-assist performance in a 69-43 win at Mount Saint Mary’s on Thursday, is a dynamic offensive threat. She erupted for 40 points against Marist on Feb. 5. However, she was held to 8 points in the first meeting with Quinnipiac. For the Bobcats, Ella O’Donnell poses a major challenge. The versatile forward was pivotal in the first win over Fairfield, scoring 18 points. She is averaging 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists over her last five games, showcasing her all-around game. In Quinnipiac’s 62-40 win over Siena on Thursday, O’Donnell led all scorers with 14 points. The game will likely hinge on which team controls the tempo. Fairfield leads the nation in scoring offense, averaging over 85 points per game, while Quinnipiac boasts one of the MAAC’s top defenses, allowing just 54.7 points per contest. With the conference tournament seeding on the line, Saturday’s Valentine’s Day clash offers high stakes and a potential playoff preview. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern.