Feb. 14, 2011
Box Score | Video: Press Conference
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Led by a game-high 17 points and seven assists from senior guard Erica Allenspach (Miamisburg, Ohio), the #24 Marist women's basketball team notched a 72-60 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) victory over the Canisius Golden Griffins on WBCA Pink Zone Night at the McCann Center. Allenspach was one of four Red Foxes in double figures. Junior guard Kate Oliver (Sydney, Australia) and junior Brandy Gang (Hartville, Ohio) chipped in 11 and 10 respectively.
Allenspach added two steals and committed no turnovers to compliment her seven assists. As a team Marist (23-2, 14-0 MAAC) had 14 assists in the game. She shot 9-for-10 from the free throw line. Oliver notched a career-high five blocks and grabbed five rebounds. Yarde contributed two assists and shot 4-for-8 from the field and 2-for-4 from three-point range. She was a perfect 2-for-2 at the foul line. Senior guard Élise Caron (Quebec, Canada) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, which equaled a career-high.
With the Red Foxes ahead 6-5 and 15:50 to play in the opening half, Marist used a 13-4 run to take a 19-9 lead with 12:12 to play in the frame. Oliver and Gang got the run started with a pair of layups. After a left-wing triple from freshman Leanne Ockenden (Syracuse, N.Y.), Allenspach capped the run with a jump shot. Ockenden hit two three-pointers in the first half to account for her six points.
The Golden Griffins clawed back to within one, 25-24, with 4:23 to play in the frame. Canisius used a 12-3 run over a span of 5:19. The spurt was capped by a Micayla Drysdale triple.
Marist pushed the lead back to eight by halftime as the period concluded with a layup from sophomore Kelsey Beynnon (Burlington, Vt.) off a pass from Caron. The Red Foxes held a 35-27 halftime advantage.
The Red Foxes opened the second half by scoring the first six points, which capped a 12-0 run. The stretch began with 1:26 to play in the first half, and capped at the 16:08 mark in the second stanza. Oliver made the last two baskets on the run, both jumpers. Following her buckets, Marist led 41-27.
Canisius (8-17, 4-10 MAAC) got as close as eight on three instances in the final six minutes of the game, but a triple by Yarde pushed the Marist lead back to 12, 61-49, with 3:25 to play.
The Red Foxes shot 50 percent (13-for-26) from the field in the first half and 46 percent (23-for-50) from the floor in the game. It was the first time in three games Marist shot better than 45 percent from the field. The Red Foxes also set a season-high in free throw attempts. Marist got to the line 30 times Monday night and converted on 22 of the 30 attempts. It was just the third time this season Marist attempted more than 25 free throws in a game.
Marist outscored Canisius 28-18 in the paint and edged the Golden Griffins 14-1 in points off turnovers.
The Golden Griffins were led by Courtney VandeBovenkamp who scored 14 points. Jamie Ruttle added a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
#24 Marist will next face Manhattan at the McCann Center on Friday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m. The Red Foxes will welcome all-time leading scorer and rebounder Rachele Fitz and retire her jersey prior to the game. The ceremony will wrap up a day of events with Fitz including a luncheon at the Student Center Cabaret at noon and an autograph session. The autograph session will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the McCann Auxiliary Gym.
For ticket information call the Marist ticket office at 845-575-3553 or visit http://goredfoxes.cstv.com/tickets/mari-tickets-w-baskbl.html.
Notes: Oliver set a career-high in blocks with five. Her previous best was four which was earned against St. Bonaventure in the home-opener on Dec. 4... Caron tied a career-high with seven rebounds. It was the third time she snatched seven caroms in a game and the fourth time this year she has held at least a share in the team lead in rebounds... As a team, the Red Foxes attempted 30 free throws in the game, a season-high... It is only the third time this season Marist has attempted more than 25 free throws in a game (29 - vs. Louisville - Dec. 18, 27 - at Villanova - Nov. 28)... The Red Foxes are 17-2 when they are ranked and 2-0 this season... Marist leads the all-time series with Canisius 23-13... The Red Foxes have defeated the Golden Griffins in the last six meetings... The Red Foxes are 8-6 all-time in games played in Poughkeepsie... Giorgis is 18-7 against the Golden Griffins.
