The Crimson, still missing captains Melissa Johnson and Kristen Boike and three other players with injury, was outplayed from the opening tip to the closing whistle.
"We need to play the full 40 minutes," Peljto said.
Fairfield came out firing, connecting on shots at a 60.7-percent clip in the opening segment, taking a 45-32 lead at halftime.
The Crimson worked to close the gap in the second half, taking advantage of 12 Stag turnovers. With 8:23 remaining, Harvard had cut Fairfield's lead to 63-55.
The Stags would retake the momentum and take over the game for good in the next 2:30. Fairfield's Tapley drained a three that began a 13-5 Stag run. That run ended with the Crimson trailing, 76-59. The Crimson would reduce that 17-point deficit only once, at the 5:05 mark when the Crimson trailed by 15.
"Losing is never a good thing," Kowal said. "Our spirits are still high."
This Crimson loss came on the heels of the Crimson's first win of the season, a 54-45 victory over New Hampshire on Tuesday night.
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