Dec. 20, 2010
Box Score
LAS VEGAS, NEV. - For the first time in program history, the Marist women's basketball team defeated a ranked opponent during the regular season. On Sunday night, the Red Foxes posted a 65-60 victory over the #21 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the second game of the Duel in the Desert tournament at the Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Senior guard Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) paced Marist with a season-high 20 points.
In addition to her best point total of the season, she added three rebounds, shot 7-for-12 from the field, 4-for-4 from the free throw line and had three assists against no turnovers. It was the first time Allenspach scored 20 points or more since she set her career-high of 26 points on Jan. 18, 2010 at Siena.
In the first 4:39 of the opening stanza, Nebraska (8-3) opened up a four point lead, 12-8, after a jumper by Catheryn Redmon. Over the next 2:14, the Red Foxes responded with a 7-0 run and took its first lead of the game. Marist got baskets from Allenspach, freshman Casey Dulin (Milford, Conn.), and a free throw that opened the stretch from senior guard Elise Caron (Quebec, Canada). Following the run, the Red Foxes led 15-12 with 12:50 to play in the first period.
The Cornhuskers pushed the lead to seven, its largest of the half, with 35 seconds to play, after a layup by Dominique Kelley made the score 39-32. Nebraska took a 39-34 lead into the locker room.
Marist (8-2) took the lead for good with 11:20 to play in the game. Senior Maria Laterza (Brooklyn, N.Y.) converted a three-point play to put the Red Foxes ahead by two, 49-47. Marist pushed the lead to six as freshman Emma O'Connor (Lynbrook, N.Y.) netted four straight points for Marist to make the score 55-49 with 8:47 to play. O'Connor scored a career-high nine in the contest.
In the final minutes of the game Caron went 5-for-6 at the free throw line to keep the margin at two possessions. Additionally, junior forward Brandy Gang (Hartville, Ohio) hit a pair of free throws to push the lead to eight, 65-57, with 15 seconds to play. The eight-point differential was the largest of the game for either team.
Marist scored 19 points on 18 Nebraska turnovers and the Red Foxes' bench outscored the Cornhuskers' reserves 24-14. Marist shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and 41.5 percent from the floor in the game.
The Red Foxes conclude tournament play at the Duel in the Desert on Monday, Dec. 20 when it takes on Houston in the championship game. The Cougars have won their first two games and defeated Louisville earlier on Sunday 92-80. Tip-off between Marist and Houston is slated for 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
Notes: The win was Marist's first against a nationally-ranked team during the regular season in program history... The Red Foxes are now 1-13 against nationally-ranked teams during the regular season... Nebraska was ranked #21 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll this week... Marist now stands at 2-0 vs. Nebraska... The Red Foxes are 2-4 all-time against current members of the Big XII... Erica Allenspach hit a season-high seven field goals, five of which came in the first half... It was the first time she scored 20 points in a game since she netted a career-high 26 against Siena on Jan. 18, 2010... Emma O'Connor scored a career-high nine points on 3-for-4 shooting... It is the first time this season Marist erased a halftime deficit... The Red Foxes improved to 149-13 under head coach Brian Giorgis when allowing 60 points or fewer in a game... In the first two games of the tournament Marist has attempted 50 free throws and made 41, good for 82% at the line.
