Jan. 16, 2010

Box Score

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Led by three players in double-figure scoring, the Marist women's basketball team won its ninth straight game Saturday afternoon, defeating the Saint Peter's Peahens 70-55 at the Yanitelli Center. Sophomore guard Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) had 17 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

Yarde was 6-for-12 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line. Fitz finished the game 6-for-12 from the field and 7-for-7 at the charity stripe. As a team, Marist was 21-of-21 at the foul line. Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) had 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

Marist (13-4, 5-0 MAAC) got out to a hot start, as Yarde scored the Red Foxes' first five points en route to a 5-2 lead 1:46 into the game. Kristine Best (Commack, N.Y.) and Allenspach then made back-to-back threes to give the Red Foxes an 11-2 lead with 16:03 to go in the half. Marist then got baskets from Yarde, Johnson, and a three-pointer by Best to take an 18-3 lead with 13:34 to go in the first. Saint Peter's (6-10, 2-3 MAAC) broke a stretch of 5:21 without a field goal when a Charlene Riddck putback made the score 18-5.

The Red Foxes continued its scoring streak at the free throw line, as Fitz, Allenspach, and Emily Stallings (Newburgh, N.Y.) each made a pair of free throws to grow the lead to 19, 26-7, with 7:38 left in the half. Marist took its largest lead of the half at the 6:32 mark when a Stallings layup put the Red Foxes ahead by 23, 30-7, with 6:28 left in the half. The Peahens cut into the deficit late in the half, as Alena Ali scored six of Saint Peter's last 10 points in the half to make the halftime score 34-19 in Marist's favor.

Marist opened the second half on an 8-3 run as three-pointers by Best and Allenspach put the Red Foxes up by 20, 42-22, with 16:38 left in the game. Fitz gave the Red Foxes their largest lead of the game at the 9:33 mark when her three-point play put Marist ahead 59-34. Saint Peter's came back with a 10-0 run, as a Jessica Coles three-point play made the score 59-44 with 6:30 to go in the game. Yarde ended the Peahens' run with a three-point play of her own, putting Marist back up by 18, 62-44, with 6:05 left. The Red Foxes got the lead up to 24 late in the second half before Saint Peter's made a run to cut the final deficit to 15.

The Red Foxes shot 41.2% from the field for the game, including 45.8% in the second half. Saint Peter's was held to 33.9% from the field. The Peahens outrebounded Marist 35-33. Each team committed 15 turnovers. Natasha Morris led Saint Peter's with 16 points.

Marist concludes its three-game road swing on Monday afternoon at Siena. Tip-off at UHY Court at the ARC is at 1 p.m.