March 6, 2003
Box Score
Trenton, NJ--The Marist College women's basketball team won its first-ever game in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament action, defeating Loyola College 72-69 at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ. The Red Foxes advance to the MAAC quarterfinal against the second-seed, Siena College, on Friday, March 7th, at 12:00 noon.
Marist took a 35-31 lead into the intermission, following a first half that had six ties and six lead changes. Loyola scored the first points of the second period, to which the Red Foxes answered with four of their own, to take a 39-33 lead with 17:23 remaining. Loyola hit a three pointers 13 seconds later, to which Marist answered with a 15-7 run, to take a 54-43 lead, its largest of the game, with 9:50 remaining. The Red Foxes led by 10 points, 54-48, with 4:20 left, before Loyola began a last ditch run, closing to as few as two points, 71-69, with :03 left in the game.
Three Red Foxes scored in double-digits, led by the 16 points of Stephanie DelPreore, who shot 7-9 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line in the effort. Kristin Keller tallied a career-high 15 points in the game, on 6-9 shooting from the field, as well as pulling in five boards, tying for the team-high. Maureen Magarity added 12 points, 10 in the second half, while dishing out four assists and not committing a turnover in 25 minutes of action. Nina Vecchio had eight points for Marist, as well as eight assists and five rebounds in her 36 minutes.
Marist shot 47.2 percent from the floor, while hitting 16-20 from the free throw line. The Red Foxes had 15 turnovers, while forcing 19 from the Greyhounds, including 13 steals. Loyola out rebounded Marist 35-27 in the game, and shot 52.7 percent from the field, but was just 8-16 from the free throw line.
The Red Foxes are now 13-15 on the year, and will play Siena for the second time in seven days on Friday, looking to earn a berth in the MAAC Tournament. The game can be heard live on the internet at www.GoRedFoxes.com or on-campus on WMCR, 88.1.
