Feb. 3, 2008
Final Stats
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - The Marist women's basketball team won their eleventh consecutive game Sunday afternoon, defeating Siena 79-70 at the Alumni Recreation Center. Sophomore forward Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) scored 27 points in the win, one point shy of tying her career-high. She also grabbed seven rebounds as Marist moved to 11-0 in the MAAC.
Junior guard Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) scored in double-figures for the sixth-straight game, putting in 16 points with a game-high five assists. Senior Sarah Smrdel (Mentor, Ohio) came off the bench with 11 points, making 3-of-4 three-pointers. Meg Dahlman (Spencerport, N.Y.) had her third double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Siena and Marist traded points to start the first half. The Saints started the scoring with early baskets from Laura Menty and Shondaya Burrell. Fitz and Viani answered with four free throws to tie the game. Marist took its first lead of the game with 15:37 to go in the first half, when Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) hit a three-pointer for the Red Foxes' first field goal to take a 7-6 advantage.
With the game tied at 18-18 with 9:13 to go in the first half, Fitz split a pair of free throws to give Marist a 19-18 lead. The Red Foxes would go on to hit threes on their next three possessions, as Allenspach, Viani, and Dahlman all connected from beyond the arc to put the Red Foxes ahead 28-20. Siena would come back with a three from Liga Alpe-Luka and a Menty three point play to get within two, 28-26, with 5:23 to go in the half. Once again, Marist responded a Siena run, ending the half on a 12-4 run capped by a pair of Smrdel three-pointers to take a 40-30 lead into the locker room.
After the Saints closed to within seven to begin the second half, Fitz and Viani combined to go on a 15-4 run to give Marist a 55-37 lead with 12:33 to go in the game. The lead would stay in double-digits for much of the second half, as Viani's third triple put the Red Foxes ahead 65-47 with 8:00 to go. Siena had one last run in them, as a Madel Gimpes triple sparked an 11-2 stretch for the Saints to make the score 67-58 with 4:24 to go. Marist just proved to be too much, however, as the Red Foxes made eight of their last 10 free-throws to take a 79-65 lead with 56 seconds left. Siena scored the last five points on a Manzer layup and Gimpes half-court three-pointer at the final horn to make the final score 79-70.
Marist (21-2, 11-0 MAAC) shot only 39.6% from the field, making 21-of-53 shots. They were 10-of-23 beyond the three-point arc and 27-of-36 at the free throw line. The Red Foxes held a 39-30 rebounding edge, turning 13 offensive rebounds into nine second chance points. Marist assisted on 18 of their 21 baskets.
Siena (7-14, 3-8 MAAC) was led by Shondaya Burrell's 25 points. Laura Menty and Liga Alpe-Luka scored 10 points apiece for the Saints. Siena shot 47.1% from the field in Sunday's game, but shot only 23.5% from the three-point line.
The Red Foxes continue their current roadtrip Friday night at Niagara. Tipoff from the Gallagher Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
