Feb. 10, 2008
Final Stats
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Marist women's basketball team remained unbeaten in MAAC play on Sunday, defeating Canisius 91-46 to move to 13-0 in conference. The 45-point win is Marist's largest margin of victory since December 10, 2006 when they defeated Manhattan 70-30. Junior guard Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) led all scorers with a career-high 25 points.
Viani went 8-of-15 from the field and tied a career-high with six made three-pointers. Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) scored 19 points making 9-of-10 free throws, and added seven rebounds. Lynzee Johnson (Bellbrook, Ohio) and Sarah Smrdel (Mentor, Ohio) each scored 13 points off the bench and hit three triples apiece. Marist made a team-record 16 three-pointers in the win.
The game was close at the start, as Viani and Fitz combined to score Marist's first 12 points to take a five-point lead. Canisius would close to within one on a Mere Mullins jumper and Brittane Russell layup to make the score 12-11 with 14:05 left in the first half. Viani would answer with her second three of the game to start a 29-4 run over the next 7:09 to take a 40-15 lead. Marist made six three-pointers in the run, with Johnson making three triples in the stretch.
The Red Foxes put the lead over 30 for the first time with 2:31 to go in the first half, as a Viani jumper put Marist ahead of Canisius 55-24. The Golden Griffins went on a 9-0 run to end the half and make the score 55-33. Marist's 55 points is a season-high for points in a half. The Red Foxes shot 60% from the field in the first half and made 10-of-19 three-pointers.
Marist ratcheted up the defensive effort in the second half, holding the Golden Griffins to 13 points in the second half. With the score 69-41 with 9:36 to go, the Red Foxes went on a 14-2 run over the next 3:14 to make the score 83-43. Viani, Meg Dahlman (Spencerport, N.Y.), and Nikki Flores (Montvale, N.J.) each connected from beyond the arc during the run. Marist held Canisius scoreless for the final 5:24, as Maria Laterza (Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the defense with three blocks.
The Red Foxes shot 49.1% from the field and made 16-of-34 three-pointers. Marist once again shot the ball well from the charity stripe, shooting 91.5% on Sunday. Canisius shot 30.9% from the field and 15.4% in the second half. Marist held a considerable rebounding edge, 40-30. They also forced 21 turnovers, scoring 18 points off those Canisius miscues. Amanda Cavo led the Golden Griffins with 18 points.
Marist returns home to take on Niagara on Friday night. Tipoff from the McCann Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. 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.
