Feb. 15, 2009
Box Score
WEST HARTFORD, CONN. - Led by a game-high 27 points and 12 rebounds from Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio), the Marist women's basketball team ended Hartford's 34-game home court winning streak, winning 78-73 in overtime at Chase Arena on Sunday afternoon. Lynzee Johnson's (Bellbrook, Ohio) two free throws with 26 seconds left forced overtime, where Marist shot 75% from the field.
Fitz was 8-for-12 from the field and was 11-for-13 at the free throw line. Four other Red Foxes scored in double-figures. Johnson scored 12 points off the bench and had four rebounds and three assists. Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio), and Corielle Yarde (Leesport, Pa.) each scored 10. Viani had a game-high five assists.
Hartford (14-9) opened the game ahead 4-0 but Fitz and Allenspach scored consecutive baskets to tie the game at 4-4 3:05 into the game. After Lisa Etienne split a pair of free throws, Brandy Gang (Hartville, Ohio) made a driving layup with 15:38 to go in the first half to give the Red Foxes a 6-5 lead. The basket sparked an 11-4 run with Fitz capping it with a jumper at the 10:05 mark, making the score 17-9. Marist took a 10-point lead as Johnson banked in a three-pointer to beat the shot clock, putting the Red Foxes ahead 20-10 with 9:11 to go in the first half. The Hawks came back with a 9-2 run as an Ilicia Mathis layup got Hartford within three, 22-19, with 6:34 to go in the half.
Marist (23-3) grew the lead back to ten as Yarde followed up a three with a jumper in the lane to make the score 31-21 with 2:55 to go in the half. Hartford cut the lead down to seven at halftime with a Mary Silvia basket making the score 33-26. The Hawks opened the second half on a 10-4 run, getting within one point 37-36 on a Diana Delva three-point play with 17:27 to go in regulation. Hartford tied the game 39-39 with 16:47 to go on a Lisa Etienne three-pointer and took the lead on an Etienne fast break layup.
Silvia extended Hartford's lead to five at the 11:42 mark with a triple to make the score 48-43. Marist came back and tied the game at 48-48 with a pair of Fitz free throws. Trailing 53-48, the Red Foxes took the lead on a Fitz three-point play and a Yarde three-pointer to take a 54-53 lead with 7:37 to go. After two Fitz free throws put Marist ahead 56-53, Etienne put in another three to tie the game with 6:35 to go. The score would be tied three more times before Hartford took a 63-62 lead on an Erica Beverly free throw with 2:26 to go.
Viani gave the lead back to the Red Foxes with 2:07 to go with a pair of free throws. The Hawks came right back with an Etienne jumper and Delva free throw to go ahead 66-64 with 39 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Johnson was fouled on a drive to the basket. She made both free throws to tie the game at 66-66. Hartford had one last shot to win the game in regulation but Katie Kelley's jump shot came up short.
The two teams traded baskets early in the overtime with Hartford taking a 69-68 lead with 3:11 to go. Fitz then setup Johnson for a basket to give the Red Foxes a 70-69 lead with 2:50 left. Johnson was fouled on the shot and made the free throw to put Marist ahead 71-69. On the next possession, Allenspach blocked Kelley's layup and Johnson took it back for a layup, making the score 73-69. Marist put in three more free throws to go ahead by seven, 76-69, with 32 seconds left. Hartford would get within four with 15 seconds left, but that was as close as the Hawks would get.
Marist shot 42.9% from the field Sunday, holding Hartford to 35.3%. The Hawks were 3-for-11 from the field in overtime while the Red Foxes were 3-for-4 from the field. Marist made 27-of-36 from the free throw line, 16-of-17 in the second half alone. The Red Foxes outrebounded the Hawks 42-40 and outscored Hartford 34-24 in the paint. Beverly led Hartford with 18 points and 11 rebounds with Etienne adding 16 points.
The Red Foxes will play their last road game of the regular season on Thursday, February 19 at Manhattan. Tip-off at Draddy Gymnasium is at 7 p.m.
