Recruiting: Fairfield Women add Height, Athleticism

Here's another in the series looking at players joining conference teams for the coming season.

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FAIRFIELD WOMEN

- Kelsey Carey, a 6-foot-0 freshman forward: She scored a Staten Island record 2,174 career points over four seasons at St. Joseph Hill Academy, including 610 total points as a junior and 727 points as a senior. "Kelsey is a physical, blue collar performer who does all the things you look for," said Fairfield coach Joe Frager, in a release issued by the school. "She has a soft shooting touch and a knack for scoring around the basket.

- Sam Cooper, a 6-2 freshman forward: She averaged 24.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game this past season at Lockerby Composite School in Ontario, Canada, and was named the school's Athlete of the Year three times. She has also played two seasons on Team Canada's junior national team. "Samantha provides great length at the small forward position," said Frager. "She can hit the three, or post up. Samanta comes to us with international playing experience, which is always a plus."

- Kristine Miller, a 6-1 freshman forward: She averaged 19.9 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 2.00 assists per game at Cedar Creek H.S. in N.J. She was the Atlantic City Press newspaper's Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons. "Kristine is a post player who brings tremendous athleticism and energy," said Frager. "She's tough with her back to the basket and is a very good rebounder."

- Casey Smith, a 6-2 sophomore forward: She spent her freshman season in college at St. Joseph's University, but missed the entire year due to an injury. She is awaiting a decision on whether she will receive a waiver to play this season. A native of Danbury, Conn., she averaged 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game as a high school senior. "She had a standout (high school) career," said Frager. "We recruited her hard coming out of high school, and we're extremely happy to have her now.. As a post, she brings athleticism and the ability to face up or score inside."

- Margeaux Dupuy, a 5-6 junior guard: She transfers in after two seasons at Marquette University where she was lightly used, averaging just 5.8 minutes while appearing in six games last season. She will sit out this season and be eligible to play during the 2014-15 season. "Margeaux brings combo guard skills with the versatility to play either the point or two-guard position," Frager said. "She will provide quickness and a three-point scoring touch."

ANALYSIS: Fairfield has had great success with slightly undersized, athletic forwards, and both Carey and Miller appear in that mold. Cooper, on the other hand, is a tall player who appears to do her best work on the perimeter. If Smith becomes eligible, she will be a big part of the Stags' program, if not this year then certainly in the future. Dupuy was good enough to be recruited by and play for a higher-level program, and will also help when she becomes eligible a year from now. Fairfield returns a considerably strong group from a year ago, meaning the incoming players can probably contribute off the bench. But the apparent quality of the incoming players indicates several of them will be in the playing group.