RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Emma O'Connor (Lynbrook, N.Y.) set a new career-high with 20 points and the Marist women's basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat Manhattan 60-39 win a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) game Friday evening at Draddy Gymnasium. The game was broadcast nationally on ESPN3.
O'Connor also tied for the team lead with six rebounds, matching Elizabeth Beynnon (Burlington, Vt.) who finished with 16 points, including 6-7 from the free throw line. Marist shot 52% (13-25) from the field in the second half and 36.4% for the game. The Red Foxes had 18 assists on 20 made field goals overall. The defense held Manhattan to 31.3% shooting from the field, including just 28% in the second half while forcing 25 turnovers for the third time this season.
The Red Foxes (12-6, 7-0 MAAC) struggled early against the Manhattan (5-13, 2-5 MAAC) zone defense and the Jaspers held Marist scoreless for the 3:20. Meanwhile, Manhattan scored the first eight points until O'Connor converted a three-point play to bring the score to 8-3 with 16:40 left in the first half.
The Red Foxes picked up their defense and held Manhattan off the scoreboard for a 9:22 stretch. A Dulin layup, three Beynnon free throws eventually knotted the score up at eight with 11:04 on the clock.
Both teams struggled to score as the score remained low for the entire half. Marist finally got their offense going, using a 10-2 run late in the half to take a 21-15 lead. A three-pointer by O'Connor started the streak and gave Marist its first lead, 14-13, at the 3:19 mark. After a Manhattan bucket, Beynnon made two layups surrounding O'Connor draining another three-pointer, giving the Red Foxes a six-point advantage with 1:05 remaining.
Manhattan scored five points in the final minute, including a three-pointer of its own in the final 10 seconds to cut Marist's lead to one at halftime, 21-20.
The Red Foxes took off in the second half, going on a 23-5 run to start the period and open a 19-point lead at 44-25 with 9:55 left. O'Connor scored six of those points and Sydney Coffey (New Hope, Minn.) scored all six of her points in that stretch, converting a three-point play and hitting a long trey. Beynnon also scored five points on a two layups with the latter resulting in a three-point play. Kristina Danella (Manalapan, N.J.) also added all four of her points on free throws to complete the run.
The rest of the way, the closest Manhattan could get was 14 points. Marist's largest lead was 25 at 65-30 with under a minute to go.
The Red Foxes return home to McCann Arena for a Monday night matchup with Siena at 7 p.m.
Notes - Marist is now 9-0 this season when scoring at least 60 points... Last season's game at Draddy Gymnasium was Marist's only loss in conference play in the past three seasons.
