Feb. 24, 2008
Final Stats
Press Conference Video
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Senior guard Nikki Flores (Montvale, N.J.) tied a career-high with 21 points to lead the #23 Marist women's basketball team to a 71-61 win over Manhattan Sunday afternoon at the McCann Center. The last time Flores scored 21 was against Middle Tennessee State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago, which propelled the Red Foxes to the Sweet Sixteen. With the win, Marist has tied a program-record with their 16th straight win, sharing the mark with the 2004-2005 squad.
Sophomore Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) notched her ninth double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Senior center Meg Dahlman (Spencerport, N.Y.) also scored in double-figures, netting 16 points with six rebounds and a game-high four blocks. Marist shot a season-high 52.1% in the game, including a 64% mark in the first half.
The Red Foxes and Jaspers traded baskets to start the game, with Marist taking an early 12-7 lead on a Dahlman layup with 14:49 to go in the first half. Manhattan answered with a basket from Kelly Regan to get within three, 12-9. Marist would go on their first big run afterwards, as an Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) layup would kickstart a 10-0 run for the Red Foxes. Ahead 22-9 with 12:01 to go in the opening stanza, the Jaspers would take the momentum. Guided by strong perimeter shooting from Gabrielle Cottrell and Michelle Pacheco, Manhattan went on a 18-4 run to take a 27-26 lead with 5:35 left in the first half.
As they did earlier in the half, Marist responded. A pair of Fitz free throws and an Allenspach would trigger an 11-1 run to put the Red Foxes ahead at halftime 37-28. Marist extended the lead to 14 to start the second half, as a Fitz layup put the Red Foxes ahead 44-30 with 15:58 to go in the game. After Fitz split a pair of free throws with 13:29 to go putting Marist ahead 48-37, Manhattan went on a 10-0 run powered by four points from Regan and an Abby Wentworth triple to tie the game at 48-48 with 10:52 to go.
Once again, Marist would respond in a big way. Over the next 4:24, the Red Foxes went on a 12-2 run guided by the frontcourt play of Dahlman and Fitz. Marist was ahead 60-50 with 6:28 to go, but the Jaspers would counter. Wentworth and Nicole Harrison hit back-to-back three-pointers to get Manhattan back within four, 60-56, with 5:26 to go. That would be as close as the Jaspers would get, as Flores took over down the stretch, scoring six of Marist's last 11 points to give the Red Foxes their sixteenth straight win.
Marist (26-2, 16-0 MAAC) made 25 of their 48 shots from the field against the Jaspers. The Red Foxes shot 72% from the free throw line, making 18-of-25 attempts. Manhattan was held to 10-of-14 at the charity stripe. Marist held a decided 36-25 advantage on the boards, turning 10 offensive rebounds into 10 second-chance points. Kelly Regan led Manhattan with 14 points, while Abby Wentworth added 13.
Marist will go on the road one final time in the regular season on Wednesday when they take on Saint Peter's in Jersey City, N.J. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for Friday but was postponed due to inclement weather.
