POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist women's basketball team fell in its season-opener to a tough Villanova team 60-53 in the first game played at the new McCann Arena Wednesday night. Senior guard Corielle Yarde (Reading, Pa.) led the Red Foxes with a game-high 18 points and added six rebounds. Junior Kristina Danella (Manalapan, N.J.), playing in her first game in a Marist uniform, finished with 11 points and nine boards off the bench.
A long jump shot by sophomore Emma O'Connor (Lynbrook, N.J) capped a 6-0 run by the Red Foxes (0-1), giving them a 42-39 lead with 11:30 remaining in the game. However, Villanova (3-0) responded with a run of their own, scoring the next 12 points and holding Marist scoreless for more than a seven-minute stretch. A short jumper by junior Kelsey Beynnon (Burlington, Vt.) ended the drought for the Red Foxes, but the damage had been done as the Wildcats had built a comfortable lead at 51-44.
Villanova hit 7-13 free throws down the stretch to hold off any possible comeback by the Red Foxes. Rachel Roberts led the Wildcats with 14 points. Laura Sweeney had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Lauren Buford and Lindsay Kimmel each chipped in with 10 points.
Down 5-0 early, Yarde not only got the Red Foxes their first two points of the season with a layup at 17:18 of the first half, but she also became the 18th player in Marist women's basketball history to score 1,000 career points. She entered the game with 999 points in her first three seasons.
Danella came off the bench to score her first Marist points, draining two free throws and a jumper to give the Red Foxes their first lead of the season at 11-10. After a couple of baskets by the Wildcats, went on to drain a long three to score seven straight Marist points.
Freshman Natalie Gomez (Andover, Mass.) set a good first impression with her first basket, making a nifty layup around a much taller defender to give the Red Foxes a lead at 20-18 with 8:59 remaining in the first half.
The teams went into the locker rooms at the half with the score all knotted up at 26 following a layup by senior Brandy Gang (Hartville, Ohio). Danella led the Red Foxes at the break with nine points and led all players with six rebounds.
The Red Foxes are right back in action Friday evening when they play host to Yale. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
