Feb. 28, 2009
Box Score
Press Conference
Highlights
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - In their last game at the McCann Center, senior guards Julianne Viani (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) and Courtney Kolesar (Concord, Ohio) went out resounding winners as the Red Foxes defeated Rider 81-56 at the McCann Center Saturday night. Viani finished the game with 20 points, five assists, and a career-high eight rebounds. Kolesar had three points and tied a career-high with three assists.
Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) led all scorers with 23 points and had 12 rebounds. Fitz was 8-for-10 from the field and made all seven of her free throws. Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) finished the game with nine points, six rebounds, and five assists. Élise Caron (Quebec, Canada) came off the bench to score eight points.
Marist (26-3, 16-2 MAAC) opened the game on a 10-2 run, getting baskets from Viani, Allenspach, and Maria Laterza (Brooklyn, N.Y.). Rider answered with a 7-2 run highlighted by an Amanda Sepulveda three-pointer to make the score 12-9 with 12:30 to go in the first half. After a Fitz jumper put the Red Foxes ahead by five, 14-9, with 12:14 left in the first, the Broncs got baskets from Sepulveda and Stephanie Wisniewski to tie the game at 15-15 with 9:10 to go in the first half.
The Red Foxes took the lead back at the 8:53 mark on a Fitz jump shot in the lane. Rider hung with Marist for much of the first half staying within three at 22-19 with 4:30 remaining in the half. The Red Foxes then went on a 7-0 run over the next 2:57 with Caron scoring five of the seven points on a pair of free throws and a three-pointer that capped the run, making the score 29-19. Rider closed the gap to eight at halftime on a Sepulveda jumper with 42 seconds left to make the score 29-21.
Viani and Kolesar hit back-to-back threes to start the second half, putting Marist ahead 35-21 34 seconds into the second half. The lead grew to 17 at the 15:23 mark when a Fitz layup in transition made the score 47-30. Rider would only get as close as 14 points the rest of the way. Marist shot 51.6% from the field in the second half, made 6-of-10 three-pointers, and shot 93.3% from the free throw line. A Viani three at the 5:41 mark sparked a 16-2 run that put the Red Foxes ahead by 30, 81-51, with 2:31 to go. Viani scored five points during the run with Fitz adding four points and Corielle Yarde (Leesport, Pa.) knocking down a three-pointer.
Marist shot 43.5% from the field and 90.5% from the free throw line Saturday night. Rider shot 35.7% from the field and just 23.5% from the three-point line. The Red Foxes also outrebounded the Broncs 44-32 and committed only 11 turnovers. Tammy Meyers led Rider with 13 points. Sepulveda added 12 points and Shaunice Parker had eight points and 12 rebounds. Rider is now 10-19 on the season and end Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play 7-11.
The Red Foxes will enter the 2009 MAAC Basketball Championships in Albany as the top-seed. They will play the winner of the 8/9 game Friday, March 6th at the Times Union Center at 1:30 p.m.
