Jan. 26, 2007
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Junior guard Nikki Flores (Montvale, N.J.) scored a career-high 16 points, leading the Marist women's basketball team to a 58-46 victory over Siena before 1,659 fans at the McCann Center on Friday. The Red Foxes' 21st consecutive home victory over a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent improved their record to 16-4 overall and 9-0 in MAAC play.
Flores shot 6-for-11 from the field and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line, and also added three assists. Ten of her points came in the second half, and six came in the final 4:15 as the Red Foxes pulled away late.
The first half featured 12 lead changes and five ties, and neither team led by more than five at any point in the first 20 minutes. Freshman guard Brittany Engle (South Easton, Mass.) gave the Red Foxes a five-point lead at 27-22 with a jumper at the 3:35 mark. However, Siena scored the final four points of the first half, whittling the Marist lead to one at halftime.
With 10:52 remaining, a three-pointer by Liga Alpe-Luka gave Siena its first lead of the second half at 38-37. Flores' basket on the next possession put the Red Foxes in the lead for good, and started Marist on an 11-2 run over the ensuing 3:51. Red-shirt junior center Meg Dahlman (Spencerport, N.Y.) scored five of her nine points in the contest during this run.
Freshman forward Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) gave the Red Foxes two scorers in double digits with 10. Fitz, who also had a team-high six rebounds and two blocked shots, scored all of her points in the first half. Engle scored six and pulled in a career-high five rebounds in 16 minutes of action off the bench.
Marist shot 45.8 percent from the field, and 50.0 percent (10-for-20) in the second half. Siena shot 33.3 percent for the game, but just 23.1 percent (6-for-26) in the second half. The Saints did not hit a field goal in the final 5:33, and had just one in the final 10:52. The Red Foxes also forced the Saints to commit 21 turnovers, while committing 14 themselves.
For Siena (4-15, 3-6), Melissa Manzer scored a team-high 15, including three three-pointers. Laura Menty and Heather Stec added 10 points apiece, and Menty hauled in a game-high seven rebounds.
It was the eighth time this season Marist held an opponent under 50 points, and the Red Foxes improved to 8-0 in those games. It was also the 13th time this season Marist held an opponent under 40 percent from the field, and the team has a perfect record in those contests.
The Red Foxes will return to action for the last of their four consecutive games on Sunday, when they host Niagara at 2 p.m. Marist earned a 65-52 road victory in the teams' first meeting on Jan. 14. Season, single-game and group tickets are on sale now at GoRedFoxes.com and the McCann Center ticket office. Other ticket inquiries may be directed to 845-575-3553.
