Jan. 13, 2008
Final Stats
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - In a battle of MAAC unbeatens, it was the Marist women's basketball team who came out on top Sunday afternoon, defeating Manhattan 61-59 at Draddy Gymnasium. For the third straight game, Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) scored over 20 points for the Red Foxes, leading all scorers with 24 points. Marist is now 5-0 in MAAC play, 15-2 overall.
Marist put four players in double-figure scoring Sunday. Nikki Flores (Montvale, N.J.) scored 16 points, going 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the last 24 seconds. Meg Dahlman (Spencerport, N.Y.) scored 10 points and added six rebounds. Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) also scored 10 for the Red Foxes.
The Red Foxes and Lady Jaspers traded baskets to start the game, with an Allenspach three tying the game at 7-7 4:05 into the game. Manhattan jumped out to a 12-7 lead after a Nicole Harrison jumper. Marist would get within one at 12-11 when Sarah Smrdel (Mentor, Ohio) split a pair at the free throw line. The Lady Jaspers would take the momentum, getting out to a six-point lead, 17-11, on the strength of jumpers from Gabrielle Cottrell and Aubrie Dellinger. Marist responded with a 15-6 run to close the half, powered by six points from Fitz and four from Dahlman to take a 26-23 lead. The Red Foxes forced 16 Manhattan turnovers in the first half, turning them into seven points.
The second half started off well for the Red Foxes, as they jumped out to a 35-28 lead with 16:05 to go behind the frontcourt of Dahlman and Fitz who combined for six of Marist's first nine points in the half. The Lady Jaspers would come back, going on a 14-6 run over the next 5:33. Two free throws by Cottrell capped the run, giving Manhattan a 42-41 lead with 10:38 to go. Marist would score the next five points on a Flores layup and an Allenspach three-pointer to take a 46-42 lead. Manhattan would come back to tie it up on layups by Kelly Regan and Abby Wentworth.
The Red Foxes took the lead on five straight points, as a pair of free throws by Allenspach put Marist ahead 51-46 with 5:31 to go. Manhattan got within one with 4:39 to go on a Caitlin Flood layup, making the score 51-50 Marist. After a Dahlman layup put the Red Foxes ahead by three, Cottrell answered with a three-pointer to tie the game at 53-53 with 3:03 to go. Fitz would answer with a layup set up by Allenspach, giving Marist a 55-53 lead.
Once again Manhattan would answer with a three-pointer, as Joann Nwafili gave the Lady Jaspers a 56-55 lead with 2:10 to go. Marist would take the lead for good on a Fitz layup from Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) with 53 seconds left. Forced to foul to keep time to on the clock, Manhattan put Flores on the line twice in the last 24 seconds. Flores made four straight free throws to put Marist ahead 61-56 with 10 seconds remaining. On the ensuing inbounds, Cottrell took the ball the length of the floor and converted a layup while being fouled. Her free throw made the score 61-59. Manhattan would get a chance to tie with three tenths of a second remaining, but the inbounds pass was deflected by Dahlman, giving Marist their fifth consecutive win.
The Red Foxes took sole possession of first place in the MAAC with the win. They shot 41.7% from the field, including a 50% mark in the second half. Marist shot 81.8% from the free-throw line, converting 18-of-22 chances. The Red Foxes held a 25-23 rebounding edge, converting 10 offensive rebounds into eight second-chance points. Marist also forced 22 Manhattan turnovers.
Manhattan (9-7, 4-1 MAAC) shot 54.8% from the field in the game. Caitlin Flood and Joann Nwafili led the Lady Jaspers with 13 points each. Flood added seven rebounds and seven assists, as Nwafili had five rebounds and five assists. Gabrielle Cottrell had 10 points for Manhattan.
Marist will conclude their current road swing on Friday, January 18 at Iona. Tipoff in New Rochelle is at 5 p.m.
