Feb. 21, 2010
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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist women's basketball team defeated Siena 71-52 at the McCann Center on Sunday for Senior Day. Prior to the game, seniors Brittany Engle (South Easton, Mass.), Rachele Fitz (Seven Hills, Ohio), Lynzee Johnson (Bellbrook, Ohio), and manager Pat Massaroni were honored with a special ceremony. Fitz led all scorers in the game with 20 points, nine rebounds, and five steals.
Fitz made 6-of-10 shots from the field and all eight of her free throws. She has made her last 33 free throws. Johnson had seven points and four rebounds, while Engle had one point, three rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal in 20 minutes of action. Junior guard Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio) had 19 points, making 8-of-11 shots from the field while Brandy Gang (Hartville, Ohio) had 11 points and four rebounds off the bench.
Marist (22-6, 14-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the first 3:20, getting baskets from Allenspach and Kate Oliver (Sydney, Australia) as well as a pair of Fitz free throws. After Serena Moore got Siena (9-16, 7-9 MAAC) on the scoreboard with a layup, Allenspach put in a layup of her own which started an 8-0 run for the Red Foxes. An Oliver jumper at the 14:39 mark capped off the run, putting Marist ahead 14-2. The lead grew to 14 with 12:14 remaining in the first half as a Corielle Yarde (Leesport, Pa.) layup made the score 20-6.
The Red Foxes continued to pour it on, as back-to-back Allenspach three-pointers put Marist ahead by 17, 28-11, with 8:18 to go in the half. Her second three started a 9-0 run for the Red Foxes, giving them a 34-11 lead with 5:27 remaining in the first. After a Lily Grenci layup made the score 34-17 with 4:24 left in the half, Johnson made her only three of the game to put Marist back up by 20, 37-17, with 4:05 to go. The Red Foxes got free throws from Engle and Fitz in the last 3:30 to take a 40-17 lead at halftime. Marist shot 57.1% from the field in the first 20 minutes, holding Siena to 26.1% and 0-for-6 from beyond the three-point arc. The Red Foxes also assisted on 12 of their 16 baskets in the first half.
Marist got its lead up to 25 in the second half, as a Fitz jumper in the lane made the score 46-21 with 14:02 to go in the game. Siena closed to within 19, 52-33, with 10:58 left on a Grenci layup and a Maja Gerlyng three-pointer. The Red Foxes responded with a Johnson basket and a Gang three to put the lead back up to 24, 57-33, with 9:51 remaining in the game. The Saints got as close as 16 in the second half, but that would not be enough to overcome Marist's hot shooting Sunday afternoon.
The Red Foxes' win makes them 15-1 at the McCann Center this season and a perfect 9-0 against MAAC teams. Marist shot 52.1% from the field for the game, holding Siena to 27.9%. The Red Foxes also outrebounded the Saints 36-33. Grenci led Siena with 14 points off the bench, with Moore adding 12 points and five rebounds.
Marist concludes the regular season with a pair of road games next weekend. The Red Foxes will take on Iona Friday night at the Hynes Center at 7:30 p.m.
