Jan. 5, 2009

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist women's basketball team returned to the Associated Press's Top 25 women's basketball poll on Monday, taking the 25th spot. The Red Foxes were ranked 22nd in the final AP poll of last season.

Marist is 12-1 so far this season, the best start to a season in program history. The Red Foxes have won their last nine games since their lone defeat at #4 Oklahoma on November 26. Led by junior forward and preseason Wooden Award candidate Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio), Marist is now 3-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference after defeating Rider 69-45 at Alumni Gymnasium on Sunday. Last season, Marist earned its first AP ranking on February 26 in the 25th spot before being ranked as high as 22 at the end of the season.

The Red Foxes return to the McCann Center Tuesday night to take on Iona at 7:30 p.m. All fans in grades 1 through 8 that bring a recent report card with an "A" on it to the game will receive a free game ticket. The first 500 fans ages 14 & under will also receive a free Marist Book Bag. Fans can purchase tickets to all of these at GoRedFoxes.com, or by stopping by the Marist Ticket Office located in the McCann Center. For more information, call the Marist Ticket Office at (845) 575-3553.