It’s a game that Dalila Eshe will never forget.
Eshe earned her first victory as Yale head coach with a hard fought 68-61 home win over in-state rival and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent Fairfield Monday night.
The Bulldogs (1-2) had opened the season with losses at Fordham and St. Joseph’s.
First-year guard Kiley Capstraw poured in 24 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field.
Yale came out strong and grabbed a 13-6 lead which grew to 13 in the second quarter. A Fairfield (1-2) flurry cut it to 28-22 at the half.
Fairfield pressure in the third quarter caused the home team to turn the ball over, and a trey by Fairfield’s Janelle Brown cut the Yale lead to 41-38. That’s the closest Fairfield would get, as layups by Yale sophomore guard Nyla McGill and sophomore guard/forward Mackenzie Egger increased the lead to seven.
Eshe, thrilled after the game, gave huge credit to Capstraw.
“She is an incredibly talented young player,” Eshe said. “The sky is the limit for her.”
Yale enjoyed a 28-10 advantage in bench points and outrebounded Fairfield, 29-23.
Yale plays at Army on Wednesday.