POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Corielle Yarde (Reading, Pa.) had a game-high 19 points and the Marist women's basketball team again played had another good defensive outing, defeating Hartford 57-51 Thursday night at McCann Arena. It was the third win in a row for the Red Foxes.
Yarde also added three blocks and two steals, part of the Red Foxes' (4-2) stifling defense. Leanne Ockenden (Syracuse, N.Y.) finished with 12 points, including to clutch three-pointers in the last five minutes of the game. Brandy Gang (Hartville, Ohio) added nine points and tied a career-high with 11 rebounds. Kelsey Beynnon (Burlington, Vt.) set a new personal best with five rebounds.
"Our defense, which had carried us the previous two games as well, did a very nice job again," head coach Brian Giorgis said. "Down the stretch, we again had people make big plays with Leanne hitting a couple of big threes and Corielle making a couple of big buckets."
After the Hawks (5-2) took a 38-37 lead with 18:22 left to play in the second half, Marist (4-2) used a 6-0 run to jump ahead 43-38, a lead they would not give back. Yarde started the streak, converting a three-point play and, after a Beynnon free throw, converted another layup.
Hartford worked to tie the score back up at 46 all, but Ockenden hit the first of her late three-pointers to give the Red Foxes the lead back at 49-46 and kick-started a 10-2 run. Yarde hit a jumper and added two free throws before Ockenden hit her second trey, giving Marist a 56-48 lead with 2:48 left in the game.
The scoring in the first half was plentiful, as both teams pounded the offensive board, leading to a combined 14 second-chance points in the first 20 minutes.
Neither team good jump ahead as they matched each other shot for shot. With the score tied at 23, Yarde hit a three-pointer and Gang hit two free throws to give the Red Foxes the largest lead of the half for either team at 28-23.
Marist led by just two at the break at 37-35. Yarde led the Red Foxes at the half with 10 points. Gang had nine points and a game-high six rebounds. She was 5-6 in free-throws as Marist was 9-10 from the charity stripe.
It is the fourth consecutive year that the Red Foxes have defeated the Hawks, and sixth time in nine meetings overall. "Tonight was just another typical Hartford-Marist game and fortunately recently we have been able to come out on top," Giorgis said. "You always know it is going to be a great game. I think it is the best mid-major, non-conference rivalry in the East."
The Red Foxes will play their next four games on the road beginning next Saturday, Dec. 10 at Boston University. Their next home game will take place after Christmas when they host Kansas State on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.
