Jan. 22, 2010
Box Score | Highlights - Credit: Cable 6 | Press Conference
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist women's basketball team held Saint Peter's to 16 points in the first half, building a 10-point halftime lead into a 59-48 win at the McCann Center Friday night. Marist has now won its last 11 games in a row. The Red Foxes' 59 points are their lowest mark in a win since scoring 68 against Hartford on Dec. 19. Corielle Yarde (Leesport, Pa.) led Marist with 13 points and five steals, adding six rebounds.
Freshman forward Kate Oliver (Sydney, Australia) scored 12 points, making 5-of-10 shots from the field with a game-high four blocks. Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) and Lynzee Johnson (Bellbrook, Ohio) each had seven points.
Saint Peter's (6-12, 2-5 MAAC) took an early 5-2 lead on baskets by Adenike Oyesile and Quiana Porter. Marist (15-4, 7-0 MAAC) tied the game 5-5 with 17:49 to go in the half on a pair of Fitz free-throws and a Yarde three-pointer. After an Oyesile jumper put the Peahens ahead 8-7 with 14:44 left in the first, a Yarde layup sparked an 8-0 run for the Red Foxes over the next 6:42 to take a 15-8 lead. During that stretch, Saint Peter's went 0-for-7 from the field and committed five turnovers.
The Peahens cut the lead to three, 15-12, with 7:11 left in the first half as baskets by Cassandra Bryant and Charlene Riddick ended the Marist run. Marist got back-to-back baskets by Oliver, as well as a pair of Fitz foul shots, to put the lead back up to nine 21-12 with 4:04 to go in the half. Saint Peter's cut the lead to five in the last two minutes of the half, but Maria Laterza (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored four of the Red Foxes' last five points in the half to give Marist a 26-16 halftime lead. The Red Foxes shot only 24.1% from the field in the first half but made 11-of-14 free throws. Saint Peter's was held to 26.1% from the field and made only 4-of-6 free throws.
Marist opened the second half on an 8-2 run capped off by an Oliver jumper to take a 34-18 lead with 17:40 to go in the game. Oliver scored six of the Red Foxes eight points to start the half. A Jynae Judson layup then started an 8-0 run for Saint Peter's, getting within eight 34-26 with 15:22 to go. Charlene Riddick got the Peahens within five, 37-32, with a layup at the 12:41 mark. That would be Saint Peter's last field goal for over seven minutes. A Fitz jumper started a 13-2 run over the next 7:07 that put Marist ahead 50-34 with 7:05 remaining. Johnson and Yarde each hit a three during the run, scoring the last eight points of the stretch for the Red Foxes. Marist took its largest lead of the game with 4:43 to go as an Allenspach layup put the Red Foxes up by 17, 54-37.
The Red Foxes shot 45% from the field in the second half and 32.7% for the game. Saint Peter's shot 32% from the field and 70% at the foul line. Marist made 24-of-30 free throws, shooting 80% at the charity stripe. The Peahens outrebounded the Red Foxes 42-34, but committed 21 turnovers. Riddick led Saint Peter's with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. Bryant added six points and six rebounds.
Marist closes out its weekend homestand Sunday with a 4 p.m. game against Loyola. The first 1,000 fans to enter the McCann Center will receive a replica banner to commemorate the 2006-07 Marist women's basketball team that won the MAAC Championship and reached the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. The Marist Athletics Department will also host Alumnae Day, welcoming back all women's basketball alumnae. For ticket information, contact the Marist Ticket Office at 845-575-3553.
