Jan. 23, 2009
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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The #20 Marist (18-2, 8-1 MAAC) women's basketball team had its 14-game winning streak snapped Friday afternoon with a 73-65 loss in overtime to Fairfield at the McCann Center. The loss is the Red Foxes' first at home to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent since Jan. 8, 2005, a stretch of 37 games. Junior forward Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) led all players with 23 points.
Fitz is now 17 points away from becoming Marist's all-time leading scorer. Her 1,548 points are second only to Ursula Winter's 1,587. Senior guard Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) added 17 points and five assists. Maria Laterza (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tied her career-high with eight points. Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) had seven points and seven rebounds.
The two squads traded baskets early, playing to a 6-6 tie 3:19 into the game. Back-to-back baskets by Allenspach and Laterza put Marist up by four with 15:42 to go in the half. Fairfield took its first lead of the game at the 12:09 mark as a Shireyll Moore three and Desiree Pina jumper put the Stags ahead 14-13. The Red Foxes took the lead back on a Viani triple, making the score 16-14.
With the score tied at 16-16 with 11:30 left in the half, Brandy Gang (Hartville, Ohio) made a layup that sparked a 12-3 run over the next 3:47 to put Marist ahead 28-19. The Stags responded with a Lauren Groom three-pointer which started a 10-2 run. Fairfield got within one, 30-29, with 4:53 left in the half. Marist got the lead up to five on a Fitz layup but the Stags battled back and were down only two at halftime, 37-35.
Fairfield (11-8, 6-2 MAAC) quickly tied the game at 37-37 to start the second half with a Megan Caskin jumper in the lane. The Stags then took the lead, 39-37, on a Pina jumper. Trailing 46-44, Marist got a three from Viani to go ahead 47-46 with 16:01 to go. The Stags took the lead back on a pair of Baendu Lowenthal free throws. The second half featured 10 ties and seven lead changes. The Red Foxes trailed 56-55 with 5:23 left when Fitz put in a layup to put them ahead 57-56. Fairfield took the lead back when Stephanie Geehan made a pair of free throws with 4:22 to go. With the score tied at 58-58, Geehan knocked down a jumper to put Fairfield ahead 60-58. Fitz tied the game at 60-60 with a jumper in the lane.
The Stags took a 62-60 lead with 1:24 when Moore assisted on a Groom basket. Marist tied the game at 62-62 with a Fitz layup. Fairfield had a chance to take the lead with 33 seconds left but Caskin's jumper came up short, giving the Red Foxes a chance to win the game. Marist, however, turned the ball over on its possession to force the game into overtime.
Fairfield took an early four-point lead in overtime as Geehan and Moore made baskets to make the score 66-62 with 3:33 to go in the extra period. Marist got on the board with a pair of Élise Caron (Quebec, Canada) free throws, making the score 66-64 with 1:43 to go. Groom responded for the Stags with a layup to put Fairfield back ahead by four with 1:17 to go. Fitz split a pair of free throws with 41 seconds left to get Marist within three, 68-65, but Groom hit a three with 17 seconds left that put the Red Foxes away. The Red Foxes were 0-for-7 from the field in the overtime.
Marist shot 44.1% from the field, making 26-of-59 shots. Fairfield was 26-of-58 from the field for 44.8%. The Stags outrebounded the Red Foxes 39-31 even though Marist dominated Fairfield in the paint, scoring 36 points in the land to Fairfield's 16. Fairfield shot 93.8% from the free throw line, making 15-of-16 attempts. Marist made 10-of-15 free throws. Lowenthal led the Stags with 21 points and 10 rebounds as Geehan had 15 points and six rebounds.
The Red Foxes will look to bounce back on Sunday as they travel to Jersey City, N.J. to take on Saint Peter's. Tip-off at the Yanitelli Center is scheduled for 12 p.m.
