SPORTS DESK — WEEKLY LEDGER

March 12, 2026
Games played March 5–March 12, 2026

The Fairfield University women's basketball team closed the week as MAAC champions for the third consecutive year, while the men's program ran deep in the same tournament before a semifinal exit. At the high school level, Fairfield Ludlowe and Fairfield Warde both opened CIAC state tournament play — with one advancing and one falling — as winter basketball entered its final stretch.

No. 2 Fairfield University defeated No. 1 Quinnipiac University, 51-44, on March 9 to capture the program's third straight MAAC women's basketball title at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Maacsports The championship run was built over three games inside the coverage window. Kaety L'Amoreaux scored 21 points and Meghan Andersen added 16 in a 69-53 quarterfinal win over Sacred Heart on March 6. ESPN Jillian Huerter then scored 19 points and Andersen added 18 points and nine rebounds as the Stags defeated Merrimack 65-48 in the semifinal on March 8, advancing to their 14th MAAC title game. ESPN In the final, Huerter hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points, while Cyanne Coe added 15 points and 10 rebounds as Fairfield held Quinnipiac to its lowest point total of the season. The Washington Post Huerter was named championship MVP, with Andersen and Coe also earning spots on the MAAC All-Tournament team. Fairfield University The win secured the program's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Stags became only the fourth program in MAAC history to three-peat. Maacsports Fairfield finished 28-4 overall.

High School Basketball

The CIAC Division II boys tournament opened March 6 with both Fairfield programs on the court. Xavier hosted Fairfield Warde in a first-round matchup and the Falcons won 74-69, with Joe Fitzpatrick converting a basket-and-foul opportunity and Caden Quigley providing scoring for the Mustangs in the loss, ending their state tournament run. WFSB

Fairfield Ludlowe fared differently on the same night, defeating No. 24 Enfield at home to advance to the Division II second round. The Falcons' tournament run ended in the quarterfinals on March 6, when Fitch defeated Ludlowe 70-58. Fciac Carlo Noecker and Lorenzo Stabilini had been Ludlowe's leading contributors throughout the postseason.

High School Girls Basketball

In the CIAC Class LL girls bracket, Fairfield Warde advanced to the quarterfinals with a 44-41 second-round win over West Haven on March 5, before Greenwich ended Warde's season 35-32 on March 7. Fciac

Turning to college basketball, the Fairfield University men's program had a tournament run of its own before the week concluded.

College Basketball — Men

Braden Sparks scored 17 points and Brandon Benjamin added 15 as the seventh-seeded Stags defeated No. 10 Manhattan 71-60 on March 5 in the MAAC Tournament first round. ESPN In the quarterfinals on March 6, Benjamin matched career highs with 26 points and 15 rebounds in a 74-55 win over No. 2 Saint Peter's, with Tony Williams scoring a personal-best 16 points. Fairfield University The run ended in the semifinals on March 8, when Siena defeated the Stags 76-61. Declan Wucherpfennig led Fairfield with 13 points and 10 rebounds, Sparks also scored 13 with five assists, and Williams added 12 points and three steals. Fairfield University Fairfield finished the season 21-13.

College Basketball — Women

The women's program went 3-0 in the tournament window. In addition to the semifinal and title game results noted in the lead, Fairfield entered the tournament at 25-4 overall and 19-1 in MAAC play, ranked No. 25 nationally, FOX Sports and closed it as champions at 28-4.

What the Ledger Shows

• Fairfield University women's basketball won its third consecutive MAAC championship on March 9, going 3-0 in Atlantic City and earning an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. Jillian Huerter was named tournament MVP and Cyanne Coe recorded a double-double in the title game.
• The men's program advanced three rounds as a No. 7 seed before losing to Siena 76-61 in the MAAC semifinals on March 8, finishing 21-13. MAAC placement was not available for conference standings as the regular season had concluded and the tournament field is set.
• Both Fairfield Ludlowe and Fairfield Warde opened CIAC boys tournament play on March 6 — Warde's season ended in a 74-69 first-round loss to Xavier while Ludlowe advanced before falling to Fitch 70-58 in the quarterfinals.

What to Watch

• The NCAA Women's Basketball Selection Show airs Sunday, March 15 on ESPN, when Fairfield University will learn its bracket placement and first-round opponent for the NCAA Tournament.
• The CIAC Boys Ice Hockey Division I first round began Wednesday, March 11, with Notre Dame Prep playing at No. 6 Greenwich Fciac — results from that round and subsequent rounds will be verified through CIAC and FCIAC official sources before publication.

Sources: Official school athletic departments; CIAC/league records; MAAC official standings and recaps.