Dec. 5, 2008
Box Score
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - On a night when points were at a premium, the Marist women's basketball team held Niagara to 38 in a 60-38 win at the Gallagher Center on Friday night in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener. This is lowest total given up by Marist in a MAAC game since giving up to 34 to Saint Peter's on January 19, 2007. Senior guard Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) led all players with 18 points and five assists.
Viani was only 4-of-10 from the field but was a career-high 9-for-9 at the free throw line. Junior forward Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) scored in double-figures for the 41st straight game, putting in 15 points. Maria Laterza (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added eight points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Brandy Gang (Hartville, Ohio) scored eight points off the bench and tied a career-high with six boards.
Marist (6-1, 1-0 MAAC) and Niagara traded baskets to start the game, playing to an 8-8 tie with 14:28 left in the first half. The Red Foxes took a 12-8 lead with 13:45 left in the half on four straight free throws by Viani. The Purple Eagles got within two, 14-12, with 11:40 to go on a Rachele Folino jumper. Marist then went on a 7-0 run, sparked by a Viani three-pointer, to go ahead 21-12 with 9:01 to go. Niagara responded with a 8-0 run, capped off with a Jen McNamee three-pointer, to get within a point at 21-20 with 3:56 left in the half. The Red Foxes went on an 8-2 run to end the half 29-22.
The Red Foxes extended their lead to 10 with 16:16 left in the game when Erica Allenspach's (Miamisburg, Ohio) two free throws made the score 35-25. Niagara (1-6, 0-1 MAAC) came back with a 9-2 run capped by a Liz Flooks three-pointer to get within three, 37-34, with 13:43 to go. This was as close as the Purple Eagles got. Kickstarted by Corielle Yarde's (Leesport, Pa.) first career three-pointer, Marist went on a 23-4 run to end the game with a 60-38 win. Niagara was held with out a field goal for the final 11:16 of the game. Marist held the Purple Eagles to 4-of-33 from the field in the second half for 12.1%.
Neither team shot over 30% from the field in Friday night's game. Marist shot 29.8% from the field while Niagara shot 23.6%. The Red Foxes won the game at the free throw line, making 23-29 attempts. The Purple Eagles were 9-of-14 at the line. Marist had a 46-40 advantage in rebounds and also forced 24 turnovers. McNamee led Niagara with 12 points, with Flooks added nine points and eight rebounds.
Marist continues its weekend in western New York with a 2 p.m. game at Canisius on Sunday. The game can be heard on GoRedFoxes.com beginning at 1:45 p.m.
