Dec. 3, 2004

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Poughkeepsie, NY - The Marist women's basketball team lost a heartbreaker in its MAAC opener against rival Siena, 56-50 in overtime at the McCann Center. The Saints used a 12-0 run in the last three minutes of regulation to tie the game at 46-46, forcing an overtime period. The Saints would go on to score 10 points in overtime, including going 5-6 from the free throw line to take the win.

Siena got off to a quick start with a big three from Alexis Darling just forty seconds into the game. The two teams traded missed baskets for the next three minutes until Katelyn Dooley put the Saints up 5-0. Marist would fight its way back and take an 11-7 lead after a three and a steal by sophomore Shannon Minter (Ossining, NY). The Red Foxes held onto the lead for the remainder of the half, going up by as many as eight, 22-14 after a Kresge layup. Marist took a 24-21 lead into the break.

The Foxes came out solid in the second, as senior captain Kristin Keller (Poughkeepsie, NY) drained five straight points to put Marist up 29-22 five minutes into the half. Siena battled back as freshman Laura Menty got to work with nine straight points to pull her team within two at 34-32 with 8:20 remaining. Marist expanded their lead as Fifi Camra (Conakry, Guinea) got to work on offense, leading the Red Foxes to a 46-34 lead with 3:22 remaining. The Saints tallied 12 straight to tie the game, including clutch free throws from Menty.

From the opening tip, Siena controlled the overtime period, coming out to a quick 51-46 lead off back-to-back baskets by Melissa Manzer. Marist would pull within one after two defensive rebounds and two made free throws from Kristen Vilardi (Fishkill, NY), but the Saints went to work from the charity stripe to pick up five straight points and the 56-50 win.

Camara recorded her first double-double at Marist with 14 points and 13 rebounds along with six steals. Keller finished the night with 11 points and seven boards. Kresge played the full 45 minutes, picking up seven points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Laura Menty and Melissa Manzer paced the Saints with 16 and 12 points, respectively, while Whitney Cave tallied 12 rebounds to lead her team.

Marist will be back in action on Sunday Dec. 5 when they travel to St. Peter's to take on the Peahens for a 2:00 p.m. tip.