Dec. 17, 2005

Final Stats

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. - Despite a tough shooting night, the Marist women's basketball team's tenacious defense carried it to a 44-39 victory over Harvard at the McCann Center this evening. Marist's 44 points marked the lowest scoring output in a win in program history; nonetheless, the team improved its record to 5-4 (2-0 MAAC) while dropping Harvard to 2-7. Redshirt sophomore Meg Dahlman (Spencerport, N.Y.) returned to the Marist lineup and led all scorers with 13 points along with two steals and a block.

The two teams traded baskets early, with six of Marist's first nine points coming from Fifi Camara (Conakry, Guinea). With the Red Foxes up 9-8 at 11:55, Kristin Hein (Manasquan, N.J.) came in off the bench and sank a big three to put her team up 12-8. That was the first basket of a 9-0 Marist run, capped by a Dahlman layup that put the home team ahead 18-8 at 5:24.

Harvard's Emma Moretzsohn scored six consecutive points to pull her team back into it but Nikki Flores (Montvale, N.J.) three gave Marist a 21-16 lead at 2:34. Dahlman sank a three of her own before a last second jumper by Harvard's Emily Tay that took the score to 24-18, Marist at the half.

The Foxes opened the second half strong, on a 10-2 run to go up 34-20 at 15:22, their largest lead of the night. Marist's fortune would be short-lived as Harvard went on a 17-1 run lead 37-35, at 3:49. Harvard's run included a possession that lasted over two minutes, resulting in an Emily Tay jumper after five offensive rebounds and a pair of Marist fouls.

Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) drained a huge trey at 2:58 to give Marist a 38-37 lead at 2:58, one they would retain for good. She hit a jumper less than a minute later to extend her team's lead, 40-37. Marist scored the rest of its points from the free-throw line for the eventual 44-39 win.

Marist shot just 29% from the field while Harvard was not much better at 31.5%. The Crimson outrebounded the Foxes 45-37 on the night. Harvard's 39 points are the fewest allowed by the Red Foxes this season.

Camara was just shy of a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Kristen Vilardi (Fishkill, N.Y.) each added six rebounds and five and three assists, respectively.

The Red Foxes will have a short holiday break before returning to practice to prep for a Dec. 31 date at Penn and a MAAC road trip to face Canisius and Niagara on Jan 5-7.