POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist women's basketball team fought back to force overtime, but ultimately fell by a 62-56 score to Boston University on Saturday night in McCann Arena. It was the final non-conference home game of the season for the Red Foxes
Casey Dulin (Milford, Conn.) led all players with 15 points while also grabbing seven rebounds and adding three assists and three steals. Emma O'Connor (Lynbrook, N.Y.) was also in double figures with 10 points and had six boards. Elizabeth Beynnon (Burlington, Vt.) and Kristina Danella (Manalapan, N.J.) both finished just short of double-doubles as Beynnon had nine points and eight rebounds and Danella had seven points and nine rebounds. Leanne Ockenden (Syracuse, N.Y.) finished with eight points and nearly doubled her career-high with seven assists. Ockenden was in charge defensively of two-time America East Player of the Year Chantell Alford, who came in averaging 19.1 points per game, holding her to just 3-14 shooting through regulation and 0-6 for the game from three-point range. Alford had come in as the third-most precise three-point shooter in the country.
Marist (4-5) jumped out to an 11-6 lead on a two layups by Dulin and a jumper and three-pointer by Danella. Boston University (7-3) responded with a 13-0 run to take a 19-11 advantage as the Red Foxes went 5:44 without a basket in 10 tries.
The Red Foxes made a run to end the half, including scoring six of the final eight points over the final two minutes, to pull within one at halftime, 25-24. The final run was fueled by two layups from Dulin and two free throws from Danella.
As a team, Marist was just 2-12 from beyond the three-point, with several of those misses rimming in and out. Casey Dulin was 5-8 in the opening period for a game-high 10 points and Danella already had seven rebounds to go along with seven points.
The two teams traded early baskets in the second half before a three-point play by Beynnon tied the game at 31 at the 17:16 mark.
The Terriers used another 9-0 run midway through the half to erase a one-point deficit and take a 44-36 lead with 10:59 remaining.
Marist began clawing back from there however, powered by 5-6 shooting from the free-throw line by freshman Sydney Coffey (New Hope, Minn.). The Red Foxes held the Terriers scoreless for the final 5:25 of regulation, and eventually tied the game at 49-49 with 1:21 left on a layup by Beynnon. She was not, however, able to convert her second three-point play of the half and the game remained tied.
After a steal by O'Connor with 4.9 seconds remaining, Marist had a chance to win the game on the final possession of regulation, but Dulin's driving, contested layup rolled off the rim as time expired.
Alford took over in overtime for the Terriers, going on a personal 5-0 run to build a 56-51 lead for the guests. Marist could not hit any of their desperation three-pointers and Boston University sealed the win by hitting 9-15 free throws in the extra session.
The Red Foxes will hit the books for the next 12 days as they break for class finals. The team will next be on the court on Thursday, Dec. 20 at Yale in a 6 p.m. game.
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