Dec. 30, 2008

Box Score

MIAMI, FLA. - The Marist women's basketball team rode a 40-point first half to the 2008 FIU Sun & Fun Classic Championship Tuesday night, defeating Georgia Southern 60-45 at U.S. Century Bank Arena in Miami. The Red Foxes are now 11-1 on the season, the best start to a season in program history. Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio), named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, led all players with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) was Marist's other selection to the All-Tournament Team. She had 12 points and tied a career-high with nine assists. Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) also had 12 points on four three-pointers. Maria Laterza (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tied her career-high for rebounds with 10.

The Red Foxes opened the game on an 18-4 run over the first 5:12, getting six points from Fitz and three-pointers from Viani and Allenspach. Marist grew the lead to 19 as Allenspach, Fitz, and Corielle Yarde (Leesport, Pa.) put in baskets to make the score 25-6 with 11:18 left in the first half. The defense for the Red Foxes shined in the first 20 minutes, holding the Eagles to 28.6% shooting from the field and 0-for-9 from the three point line. Marist continued to pour it on, as Fitz scored two more of her 16 first half points with 2:18 to go to give the Red Foxes a 40-19 advantage, their largest of the first half.

Georgia Southern (8-5) got to within 15 to start the second half, as Ashley Melson and J'Lisia Ogburn made shots in the lane to make the score 40-25 with 18:54 to go in the game. After a Fitz layup made the score 46-26 with 14:30 to go, the Eagles went on an 8-0 run capped by three-pointers from Brittney Nelson and Jaime Navarro to get within 12, 46-34. Georgia Southern got as close as 10 with 10:52 to go as Ashley Rivens hit a runner in the lane to make the score 49-39. Marist grew the lead back to 16 on consecutive threes from Allenspach and Courtney Kolesar (Concord, Ohio), making the score 55-39 with 8:42 to go. The Eagles only got as close as 12 the rest of the way, 55-43, with 6:23 to go.

Marist shot 41.8% from the field Tuesday night and held the Eagles to 30.8%. The Red Foxes also held a 38-31 edge on the boards. Melson, an All-Tournament Team selection, led Georgia Southern with 12 points.

Marist will continue Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play on Sunday, January 4 with a 1 p.m. game at Rider.