Editor's Note: As a tribute to head coach Brian Giorgis' 21 years at Marist, we will highlight one milestone win of his career each week over a 21-week span. Giorgis' final home game as the Red Foxes' head coach will be Feb. 25, 2023 against Niagara. More information about that game, and the events surrounding it, will be provided in the coming weeks.
 
Week One: Giorgis' First Win
 
POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – To understand where you're going, you have to know where you've been.
 
In Brian Giorgis' first season with the Red Foxes in 2002-03, Marist went 13-16. It was the program's highest win total in seven years. It was also the last time the Red Foxes would finish under .500 for another 14 years.
 
Although optimism was abundant within the program, it was not as apparent to the rest of the conference in the fall of 2003. Marist was picked to finish seventh in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Red Foxes' roster featured a five-member senior class of Stephanie Del Preore, Maureen Magarity, Kerry Sullivan, Nina Vecchio, and Vicki Wancel, with Del Preore, Magarity, and Vecchio in the starting lineup.
 
There were some bright spots early in the 2003-04 season. A 2-0 MAAC start brought optimism. There was a home win against Atlantic 10 foe St. Bonaventure. A 14-point road win at Tulane in its holiday tournament was impressive.
 
The Red Foxes stood at 6-6 overall and 2-1 in the MAAC on the morning of Jan. 11, 2004. That afternoon, freshman point guard Alisa Kresge made her first career start in a home game against Rider. Kresge had two points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals, and no turnovers in the Red Foxes' 21-point win. This game started a stretch in which Marist won 10 out of 13 and rose to the top of the MAAC standings.
 
To this point, Marist had never finished in the top half of the MAAC standings in its five previous years in the conference. The Red Foxes sat in first place entering the final week of the regular season, but fell into a three-way tie for first with a home loss to Siena on Senior Night. Although the Red Foxes lost control of their own destiny for the #1 seed on the night of Feb. 26, a tangible goal remained in place heading into the regular-season finale.
 
Win the game, hang a MAAC regular-season championship banner in the McCann Center.
 
On Sunday, Feb. 29, the Red Foxes made the short trip south to face Iona in New Rochelle. Just past the midway point of the first half, the Gaels' lead swelled to double digits. Marist cut the deficit to seven at halftime, and started the second half on a 9-1 run. The game remained close for much of the second half, until a freshman from Westchester County made her presence felt.
 
With the score tied at 50 with 8:06 to go, Ossining native Shannon Minter hit a three-pointer to put the Red Foxes up front, and Marist held the lead the rest of the way. Another three by Minter with 2:12 to go gave Marist its largest lead of the game at eight. Iona cut Marist's lead to three with under 30 seconds to go, but two free throws by Magarity closed out the scoring.
 
The Red Foxes had a 66-61 win, and a banner to hang in the McCann Center.
 
And the best was yet to come.
 

Fun Fact

In the Iona game, Del Preore led Marist with 16 points – in nine minutes played. Despite battling foul trouble, she scored Marist's first four points of the game, and first five points of the second half.
 

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