Dec. 20, 2010
Box Score
LAS VEGAS, NEV. - Senior guard Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) scored a career-high 34 points as the Marist women's basketball team held on for a 78-70 win over Houston to win the Duel in the Desert title on Monday at Cox Pavilion on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Allenspach's point output ranks tied for fifth on the Red Foxes' single-game scoring list, and as a result she was named Duel in the Desert Tournament MVP. With the win, Marist moved to 9-2 on the season and has won its last five games and third in as many days.
The reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Player of the Week, Allenspach shot 11-for-18 from the field, 5-for-8 from three-point range and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. She also grabbed eight rebounds, including five on the offensive end, and added two assists and a steal. Marist also got nine points from junior guard Corielle Yarde (Reading, Pa.) and freshman Leanne Ockenden (Syracuse, N.Y.) netted eight points and two triples.
Houston (8-2) scored the first five points of the game over a span of 2:08 to vault the Cougars to a 5-0 lead. However, at the 13:55 mark, senior Elise Caron (Quebec, Canada) used a layup to spark a 6-0 run over a span of 1:23 to take the lead for the remainder of the game. Classmate Maria Laterza (Brooklyn, N.Y.) gave the Red Foxes a 12-11 lead with 13:31 to play in the first half, and the run closed with a triple by freshman Emma O'Connor (Lynbrook, N.Y.). Following the run Marist led by four, 15-11, with 12:32 remaining in the opening stanza.
Marist used a 7-0 run to push the lead to 12 points with 4:53 remaining in the period. Laterza opened the run with a second chance opportunity, and Allenspach closed the run with five straight points to make the score 30-18 in favor of the Red Foxes.
Sophomore Kelsey Beynnon (Burlington, Vt.) netted layups on consecutive possessions that helped Marist to a 14-point advantage, 39-25, at halftime.
In the frame, Allenspach totaled 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the floor. She was 3-for-4 from three-point range. It was the second straight game Allenspach scored in double figures in the opening period. She had three offensive rebounds in the frame and as a team the Red Foxes grabbed 10 offensive boards.
Marist pushed the lead to 17, 47-30, with 16:48 to go in the game on an Allenspach three-point play. The margin was the largest of the game for either team.
Houston did not go away as it used a 9-0 run from the 10:11 mark, until there was 7:16 remaining to get the Cougars to within three, 58-55.
The Red Foxes got the lead back to double digits with 1:26 left, and went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 1:42 of the game to secure the 78-70 win. In the final 1:42 junior Kate Oliver (Sydney, Australia) nailed a pair of free throws each.
In the second half, Houston outscored the Red Foxes 45-39. The Cougars had three in double figures including Courtney Taylor, Brittney Scott and Porsche Landry. Taylor posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Marist shot 43.1 percent from the field and went 14-for-18 from the free throw line. For the weekend, the Red Foxes went 55-for-68 from the charity stripe. Additionally, Marist shot 40 percent from distance on 8-for-20 from beyond the arc.
Each team collected 43 rebounds and Marist only committed 10 turnovers.
The Red Foxes return to the hardwood on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Marist will travel to Tempe, Ariz. to face the Arizona State Sun Devils. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. ET.
Notes: Erica Allenspach 34 points was a career-high and ranks tied for fifth on Marist's single game scoring list... Her previous career-high was 26 points which she scored at Siena on Jan. 18, 2010... Allenspach was named Duel in the Desert Tournament MVP... She is the reigning MAAC Player of the Week... Marist now stands at 1-0 vs. Houston... The Red Foxes are 5-1 all-time against current members of Conference USA... Marist won its second tournament win of the season... The Red Foxes won the TD Bank Classic hosted by Vermont on Nov. 19-20... Allenspach was named to the TD Bank Classic All-Tournament Team, along with Corielle Yarde.
