Feb. 20, 2004
Box Score
Poughkeepsie, NY- The Marist College women's basketball team continued their winning ways in their highest-scoring output of the season, downing Fairfield in 79-66 this evening in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action at the McCann Center.
Marist is now 16-9 overall and 12-4 in MAAC play, a full game ahead of Niagara and Siena, who are 11-5 in conference action. The Red Foxes also move to 11-1 on their home court.
The two teams came out firing, exchanging baskets over the first four minutes of the half. Coming out of a media break at the 15:52, the Red Foxes went on an 8-2 sparked by a Stephanie Del Preore jumper. Down 17-7 with 12:59 to play, the Stags began chipping away at the lead, pulling within two on a pair of free throws by Thais Celiberto. On the next possession junior Kristin Keller swished a three-pointer to put the Red Foxes up 23-18 as Marist never looked back. The Red Foxes headed into halftime with a 40-31 on 57.1 percent shooting.
Marist continued the scoring barrage in the second half, with senior Maureen Magarity hitting a lay-up just 15 seconds into the period. The Red Foxes took a 79-60 lead, a their biggest lead of the night, at the 1:07 mark on a Nina Vecchio free throw.
Four Red Foxes were in double-figures with Del Preore leading the way with 26 points, on 10-14 shooting from the floor and 6-8 shooting from the charity stripe, and nine rebounds. Keller continued to play well of the bench netting 14 points, while grabbing six boards and dishing out a season-high five assists. Vecchio added 12 points, seven assists and a season-high five rebounds. Magarity chipped in with 12 points on 4-6 shooting.
Ivana Podrug had a team-high 14 points and six rebounds, while Milica Miljkovic added 10 points. The Red Foxes held leading scorers Janelle McManus (12.0) and Schrene Isidora (9.5) to eight and six points respectively.
As a team, the Red Foxes shot 51 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc, their best shooting efforts of the season. They also outrebounded Fairfield 32-25.
Marist returns to action on Thursday, February 26th for their final home game of the season as MAAC foe Siena visits the McCann Center at 5:00pm. Marist will honor the five graduating Red Foxes prior to the game in a special Senior Day ceremony.
