Jan. 31, 2010
Box Score
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - The Marist women's basketball team could not overcome hot three-point shooting from Niagara on Sunday, falling 69-59 at the Gallagher Center. The loss snaps the Red Foxes' 13-game winning streak and also a streak of 23 straight wins on the road against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents. Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) led Marist with 20 points and eight rebounds.
Fitz was 7-of-13 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. She also had five assists and three blocks. Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) had 15 points and five assists, making three three-pointers. Corielle Yarde (Leesport, Pa.) added 12 points and five rebounds.
The two teams traded baskets early to start the game, playing to a 6-6 tie. Allenspach broke the tie with a three-pointer at the 16:30 mark, putting Marist (17-5, 9-1 MAAC) ahead 9-6. Niagara (7-13, 4-5 MAAC) answered with threes from Jaclyn Konieczka and Kayla Stroman to take a 12-9 lead with 15:23 to go in the half. The Red Foxes came back with a 6-2 run, as baskets by Fitz, Yarde, and Allenspach put Marist ahead 15-14 with 12:18 left in the half.
The Purple Eagles took the lead back on a Jennifer McNamee three, going ahead 17-15 with 11:53 to go in the first. Marist took the lead right back, as a Lynzee Johnson (Bellbrook, Ohio) three capped a 7-0 run for the Red Foxes, putting them ahead 22-17 with 7:12 left in the first. Konieczka scored back-to-back baskets for Niagara to get the Purple Eagles within one, 22-21, with 5:40 to go. Niagara then took the lead on Stroman's second three-pointer of the game, going ahead 24-22 with 5:10 remaining in the half.
After a McNamee layup made the score 26-22, Allenspach made a layup which started a 9-2 run for the Red Foxes to end the half. Baskets by Fitz and Emily Stallings (Newburgh, N.Y.) capped the run, putting Marist ahead 31-28 at halftime. Marist shot 56.5% from the field in the first half, assisting on 10 of its first 13 made baskets.
Niagara started the second half on a 6-0 run as a pair of Liz Flooks three-pointers gave the Purple Eagles a 34-31 lead with 18:17 remaining in the game. After a Yarde baseline jumper made the score 36-35, Meghan Waterman made a driving layup that sparked a 6-0 run for Niagara, giving the home team a 40-35 lead with 15:55 to go. After free throws by Flooks and Ali Morris made the score 43-35, Fitz ended a 4:00 scoring drought with a basket to make the score 43-37.
The Purple Eagles pushed its lead up to nine with 10:53 to go, as a Morris triple made the score 49-40. Marist then went on a quick 7-0 run on a pair of Fitz layups and Yarde three-pointer to get within two, 49-47, with 8:23 left in the game. The Red Foxes were within two 53-51 when a Flooks jumper started an 8-2 run that put Niagara ahead 61-53 with 1:31 to go. Marist only got as close as five the rest of the way as the Purple Eagles made 8-of-10 free throws down the stretch to put away the win.
The Red Foxes shot 46.8% from the field in the game, but made only 7-of-17 three-pointers. Niagara shot 47.8% from the field and 57.1% from beyond the arc. The Purple Eagles also made 15-of-19 free throws. Marist outrebounded Niagara 27-25, but committed 22 turnovers to the Purple Eagles' 14.
Marist returns to the McCann Center on Friday, Feb. 5 to take on the Iona Gaels for Pack The House Night. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. The Red Foxes are the only program in the country to have back-to-back sellouts on Pack The House Night. For ticket information, contact the Marist Ticket Office at 845-575-3553.
