Nov. 19, 2010
Box Score
BURLINGTON, VT. - The Marist women's basketball team hit nine three pointers in the first half of a 76-49 win over the University of Vermont in its first game at the TD Bank Classic hosted by the Catamounts. Sophomore Kate Oliver (Sydney, Australia) led Marist (2-1) with 14 points, while junior Brandy Gang (Hartville, Ohio) and sophomore Kelsey Beynnon (Burlington, Vt.) each chipped in 10 points. Beynnon's 10 points were a career-high.
A complete team effort, junior Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) tallied nine assists to go along with five points and five rebounds.
Lauren Wheeler of Vermont scored the first basket of the game 44 seconds into the contest. The Red Foxes responded with a 10-0 run over the next 1:58 to take a 10-2 lead with 17:03 to play in the half. During the run Allenspach hit a layup, Oliver nailed a jumper, and junior Corielle Yarde (Reading, Pa.) and Caron each hit a three.
Ockenden kept the Marist lead at eight points after she hit a three-pointer on consecutive possessions. The pair of three-point field goals surrounded a Tonya Young layup for Vermont (0-3). Young scored a game-high 22 points.
Allenspach followed Ockenden's three-pointer with one of her own to cap a stretch where Marist hit a three on three straight possessions.
At the 6:40 mark an 8-0 run concluded with the Red Foxes gaining their largest lead of the half, 18 points, 38-20, at the 2:46 mark. Beynnon tallied the final five points of the run on a pair of free throws and a three-point basket. Marist took a 15-point advantage into the locker room with a 43-28 lead over the Catamounts.
In the first half, Marist shot 14-for-30 from the field and assisted on all 14 field goals it made in the stanza, including six helpers from Allenspach. The Red Foxes hit nine three-pointers in the period behind three from Ockenden. The nine three's in a half was the most since Feb. 10, 2008, when Marist hit 10 three-pointers in the first half against Canisius in a 91-46 win at the Koessler Athletic Center.
The Red Foxes used strong team defense in the second half to never allow Vermont within less than 17 points in the half. Marist got four steals and forced seven turnovers in the final stanza.
With 6:03 remaining, Caron completed a three-point play to extend the lead to 25 at 68-43. In the final minutes, Beynnon extended the lead to 28 as she hit two out of three free throws. The score at that point was 74-46.
For the game, Marist shot 44.3 percent from the field and 44.0 percent from three-point range. The Red Foxes shot 27-for-61 from the field behind a 7-for-16 performance from Oliver. Additionally Marist shot 11-for-14 from the free throw line and assisted on 24 of 27 field goals.
The Red Foxes out-rebounded the Catamounts 38-32. Marist committed a season-low seven turnovers. The Marist defense forced 19 Vermont turnovers.
In a quick turnaround, Marist will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 20 to conclude play at the TD Bank Classic. The Red Foxes will take on Dartmouth to wrap up play at the tournament. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.
Notes: Beynnon set career-highs in seven statistical catergories including points with 10... Marist's three freshmen - Emma O'Connor and Leanne Ockenden have all scored in each of the team's first three games this year... The Marist bench scored 33 of Marist's 76 points... The Red Foxes committed a season-low seven turnovers... Marist is now 145-12 under Head Coach Brian Giorgis when allowing 60 points or less... Allenspach is 22 points from 1,000... Giorgis is four wins from 200... Marist improved to 2-1 all-time against Vermont... The Red Foxes are 16-10 against the America East all-time and 1-0 this season... Marist will see two more America East opponents, Hartford and Boston University in the next five contests.
