POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Senior guard
Allie Best and senior forward
Willow Duffell are co-captains for the Marist Women's Basketball team in the 2020-21 season, the program formally announced on Wednesday afternoon.
This is the first time that Best and Duffell are captains for the Red Foxes, succeeding graduates
Alana Gilmer,
Rebekah Hand, and
Grace Vander Weide from the 2019-20 campaign.
"In an unprecedented season that has featured so many adjustments, we have benefited tremendously from having Willow and Allie serve as co-captains," said Giorgis. "Though they are captains in title for the first time, they have consistently served as guiding voices on the court, in the locker room, and around their teammates. It certainly helps that they've been inseparable since they arrived to Marist together, and have developed great chemistry with one another. They have and will continue to elevate this program as captains while we navigate this challenging year."
Best, a two-time MAAC All-Academic Team honoree, appeared in 30 games in the 2019-20 campaign, making seven starts. She led the team and was second in the MAAC with a 2.18 assist/turnover ratio, and posted 87 assists on the season, which is the most by a returning player. She helped guide a Red Fox team that averaged 20.03 assists per contest, second all-time in MAAC history only to Siena's 20.06 assists per game in 1998-99. In 97 career games across her three seasons in a Marist uniform, Best has averaged 4.0 points per game and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 33 percent from beyond the arc.
"While not an official captain (in previous years), Allie has been a leader in our locker room for a long time," commented Giorgis. "She is a great teammate and someone our players go to for so many things. She is an extension of our coaching staff on the floor, and has a firm grasp on what we expect from our players. Allie is caring and encouraging, but also holds her teammates accountable. She wants everyone around her to succeed and has the ability to make those around her better. She has all the tools to make a great captain. Throughout her career, Allie has always put the team first, and she is ready to be our leader this year."
Duffell headlines Marist's frontcourt after a season in which she started 22 of the 25 games she played. The Harriman, NY native set career-highs with 7.5 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Her .562 field goal percentage, which paced the conference and tied for the third-highest mark in a single season by a Red Fox (minimum 75 field goals made), led a Marist team that shot .482 from the floor in 2019-20, which is tied for fifth-best by a MAAC team in conference history. Duffell also ranked top 15 in the MAAC in overall rebounding, blocked shots, and defensive rebounds. Off the court, she is also a two-time MAAC All-Academic Team recipient.
"Willow has always been a lead-by-example type of player," Giorgis mentioned. "She has really stepped up this year and become more vocal, especially with the young post players. You can find her on the sideline giving direction and tips when she's not in the play. Willow understands what it takes to win and how we do things in our program. We know she will use the same intensity that she uses on the court to help lead our team."
Eight Red Foxes return to a team that earned a share of the regular season MAAC championship in 2019-20 after going 26-4 and 18-2 on the year, reaching the MAAC Semifinals before the rest of the MAAC Championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Junior guards
Sarah Barcello and
Kendall Krick join seniors Best and Duffell as upperclassmen.
Samantha Bailey,
Julianna Bonilla,
Trinasia Kennedy, and
Camille Loussedes will begin their sophomore seasons on the roster. Five freshmen join Marist ahead of the year:
Zaria Demember-Shazer,
Anabel Ellison,
Erin Fox,
Emma Wax, and
Caitlin Weimar.
Marist opens up conference play at McCann Arena on Friday, December 11 against Canisius. Game time will be announced at a later date. In the meantime,
fan cutouts are available for purchase to display in the stands at McCann Arena during home basketball games this season.
