FAIRFIELD, Conn. — In her three years at Fairfield, Carly Thibault-DuDonis has transformed the Stags into the leading team within the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). This season, the Stags hold a record of 16-3 overall and remain unbeaten in conference play at 10-0, having accomplished a remarkable feat of winning 30 consecutive regular-season conference games. Their recent victory over second-place Quinnipiac, with a score of 72-63, underscores their dominance and places them among the top five longest active winning streaks nationally, alongside teams like South Carolina, UConn, South Dakota State, and Florida Gulf Coast.
Last season marked a historic milestone for Fairfield as they earned a ranking for the very first time in the program’s history and reached the NCAA Tournament. Unfortunately, they faced elimination in the first round against host Indiana.
What stands out this season is Fairfield’s ability to maintain their success despite the absence of Janelle Brown, who was the reigning MAAC Player of the Year. Brown suffered a serious knee injury, tearing her ACL, lateral collateral ligament, and meniscus just eight games into the season, which was compounded by a fractured femur.
Thibault-DuDonis praised Brown for her resilience, stating, “Nellie has been an outstanding player, a fantastic teammate, and a great leader. Even while sidelined, she remains incredibly vocal. Her attitude throughout this challenging injury is inspiring, particularly when it’s common to retreat into isolation.”
The Stags have experienced their three losses this season prior to the new year, facing Richmond, Oklahoma State, and St. John’s. Their defeat against the Red Storm occurred in the first match following Brown’s injury.
Despite Brown’s absence, the team has flourished thanks to a deep roster that sees contributions from all players. Thibault-DuDonis expressed her enthusiasm for managing different team combinations, highlighting the challenge of deciding which players to utilize each game. She stated, “One of my favorite challenges is identifying the right combinations at crucial moments. I can play ten players every game, and navigating that responsibility is something I embrace throughout the season.”
In their recent victory, four players contributed significantly by scoring in double figures, even with leading scorer Meghan Andersen limited to just four points.
With Thursday’s win, Fairfield now ranks second in MAAC history for consecutive regular-season victories, surpassing Marist’s previous record of 29 consecutive wins from 2006 to 2009. They now trail only Quinnipiac’s impressive streak of 43 wins from 2016 to 2019.
Quinnipiac coach Tricia Fabbri commended Thibault-DuDonis and her team, noting their ability to remain focused and not lose sight of their goals. She acknowledged the challenge of knowing that opponents always bring their A-game against a top team and expressed her admiration for Thibault-DuDonis’s accomplishments.
