Jan. 31, 2004
Box Score
Lawrenceville, NJ - In one of the most exciting games of the season, the Marist College women's basketball moved to 12-7 overall, 8-2 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) as they downed Rider 74-65 at Alumni Gymnasium.
Senior Stephanie Del Preore had a huge day in front of her hometown crowd not only netting her 1,000th career-point but recording a career-high 31 points on 12-21 shooting, 21 rebounds, four blocks and four assists as well as two steals. The Livington, NJ native set the Marist single-game record for rebounds and became the first player in Marist history to register 20 or more points and 20 or more rebounds in a game.
Marist headed into halftime tied 26-26 with the Broncs after a back-and-forth first half. But the Red Foxes came out of the break on fire going on a 30-12 run in the first 10 minutes of the half on 68.4 percent shooting from the floor. The surge was led by Del Preore, who scored 21 second-half points, and fellow senior Maureen Magarity who recorded her 13 points all in the second frame.
Rider pulled within eight with 3:45 left to play but Marist was able to hold off the attack, as Del Preore made a lay-up and three free throws within the next minute and a half to put the Red Foxes up 70-57.
Del Preore notched her third double-double in week with 2:38 left in the first half when she scored her tenth rebound on the afternoon. She scored her 1000th point at the 12:12 mark in the second half putting home a Kristen Vilardi pass. Del Preore has scored in double-figures in each of her last eight games, the longest streak of her career.
Senior Nina Vecchio chipped in with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Kristin Keller added 12 points on 4-8 shooting and four blocks.
As a team, Marist outrebounded Rider 43-38, tallied nine blocks and shot 43.8 percent from the floor.
The Red Foxes look to remain atop the MAAC at they embark on a four-day swing to Bufflao as they face Niagara on February 6th and Canisius on February 8th.
