Feb. 19, 2010
Box Score
BALTIMORE, MD. - Led by 20 points from sophomore guard Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio) scored 15 points with nine rebounds, eclipsing 1,000 boards for her career while playing in her Marist-record 130th game.
Yarde was 7-for-12 from the field and made both of the Red Foxes' three-pointers on the night. Fitz was 7-for-15 from the field with two blocks and three steals. Two other Marist players scored in double-figures Friday night. Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) had 13 points, making 7-of-8 free throws. Brandy Gang (Hartville, Ohio) had 10 points off the bench.
Loyola (11-15, 6-9 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) got out to a quick 6-2 lead on threes by Erica DiClemente and Meredith Tolley. A Fitz jumper with 14:18 remaining in the first sparked an 8-0 run for Marist, as an Allenspach jumper at the 11:24 mark gave the Red Foxes a 10-6 lead. With the game tied 10-10, Marist went on a 9-0 spurt capped off by five straight points from Yarde to go ahead 19-10 with 7:52 left in the first half. The Greyhounds closed to within three at the 5:32 mark as a Katie Sheahin layup capped an 8-2 Loyola run, making the score 21-18.
Marist (21-6, 13-2 MAAC) put the lead back up to seven, 25-18, on a pair of Lynzee Johnson (Bellbrook, Ohio) free throws at the 4:38 mark of the first. The Greyhounds closed to within two with 3:12 remaining in the half, as a Sheahin three made the score 25-23. The Red Foxes then got baskets from Gang and Fitz in the last two minutes to give Marist a 29-23 halftime lead.
Yarde exploded in the second half for Marist, scoring the Red Foxes first 11 points of the period to put them ahead 40-33 with 15:53 left in the game. Marist then went up by 10, 43-33, on a Fitz three-point play at the 13:49 mark. Loyola would not go away quietly. Three-pointers from Tolley and DiClemente highlighted a 10-2 run for the Greyhounds to get them within two, 45-43, with 10:54 to go.
Loyola was within two again with 6:03 to go in the game as a Kaitlin Grant layup made the score 55-53. A Fitz layup and a pair of Allenspach free throws put Marist back up six, 59-53, with 5:24 remaining. DiClemente then made another triple on the Greyhounds next possession to make the score 59-56 with 4:58 to go. That would be Loyola's last basket until the final 15 seconds of the game. A Fitz layup started an 11-0 run for Marist over the next 4:43 that gave the Red Foxes a 70-56 lead. Marist went 7-for-8 from the free throw line during the run to put the game away.
Marist shot 48.1% from the field for the game, shooting 54.2% in the second half alone. The Red Foxes also made 16-of-17 free throws. Loyola shot 39.8% from the floor and made 12-of-31 three-pointers. Marist outrebounded the Greyhounds 34-27 and outscored Loyola 46-15 in the paint. DiClemente led Loyola with 19 points, making five three-pointers. Sheahin added 16 points, while Tolley had 12 points.
Marist will play its final regular-season home game of the 2009-10 season Sunday afternoon as it hosts Siena at 2 p.m. Prior to the game, the Marist Athletics Department will honor seniors Rachele Fitz, Rachele Fitz bobblehead doll. For ticket information, contact the Marist Ticket Office 845-575-3553.
