Jan. 27, 2008
Final Stats |
Photo Gallery 
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist women's basketball won their ninth consecutive game on Sunday afternoon, defeating Loyola 85-59 at the McCann Center. The Red Foxes shot a season-high 51.6% from the field, with four players shooting over 60% in the win. Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) led all scorers with 26 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season.
"After 13 of the first 18 games on the road, I think we're getting used to playing at home", said head coach Brian Giorgis as Marist moved to 19-2 on the season and a perfect 9-0 mark in the MAAC.
Junior guard Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) scored in double-figures for the fourth straight game, scoring 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field and had five assists. Viani connected on 4-of-6 three pointers as Marist shot 58.8% from beyond the arc. Nikki Flores (Montvale, N.J.) was the third Red Fox in double-figures with 16 points and three assists.
Meg Dahlman (Spencerport, N.Y.) led the Marist defense, which held Loyola to 30.9% shooting from the field. The senior had nine rebounds and tied a career-high with five blocks. The Red Foxes held the Greyhounds to just seven field goals in the second half.
Marist came out of the gates making eight of their first 11 shots from the field to take a 17-4 lead 7:13 into the game. The lead would grow to 16 on a Viani three-point play to make the score 20-4. Marist's largest lead of the first half was 17, as a Lynzee Johnson (Bellbrook, Ohio) three gave Marist a 23-6 lead. The Red Foxes led by double-digits for much of the first half, but Loyola would creep back at the end of the half. After a Flores jumper put Marist ahead 40-25, the Greyhounds went on a 10-2 run sparked by a Devon Carey three-pointer and a Vika Sholokhova three-point play, to get the halftime deficit to seven, 42-35.
The Greyhounds stayed with Marist to start the second half, trading baskets to get the score 47-40 with 18:29 to go. The Red Foxes would take the momentum from there, as Flores and Fitz led Marist on a 16-2 run over the next 7:06 to take a commanding 64-42 lead. The Marist defense forced 14 straight Loyola misses at one point in the second half. Marist would reach their largest lead of the game with 5:32 to go, as a Viani three put the Red Foxes ahead by 28, 77-49.
Marist made 32 field goals in the game and shot over 50% in each half. They also shot over 80% from the free-throw line for the 13th time this season, shooting 84.6% from the charity stripe on Sunday. Marist also distributed the basketball well with 18 assists to only nine turnovers. Loyola was led by Candace Walker, who scored 17 points. Meredith Tolley added 12 points and Vika Sholokhova had eight points and 10 boards off the bench.
The Red Foxes close out their four-game homestand Friday night against Rider. Single-game and group tickets are available online at GoRedFoxes.com and at the Marist Ticket Office. For ticket information, call the Marist Ticket Office at (845) 575-3553.
