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. The game is set for a 2 p.m. tip, with a ceremony to follow afterward.
 
Week One: Giorgis' First Win | Week Two: First Regular-Season Title | Week Three: '04 MAAC Championship |Week Four: '06 MAAC Championship | Week Five: '07 MAAC Championship | Week Six: First NCAA Tournament Win | Week Seven: Red Foxes Reach Sweet Sixteen | Week Eight: '08 MAAC Championship | Week Nine: '08 NCAA Tournament Win Over DePaul | Week 10: '09 MAAC Championship | Week 11: '10 MAAC Championship | Week 12: '11 MAAC Championship
 
POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist women's basketball team entered the 2011 NCAA Tournament with an impressive resume and the likelihood of earning one of its best seeds in program history.
 
The Red Foxes were appearing in their seventh NCAA Tournament in 2011. They had previously earned two 14 seeds (in their first two appearances in 2004 and 2006), a very lucky 13 seed (2007), a pair of 12 seeds (2009, 2010), and a 7 seed (2008).
 
The 2008 team mapped a similar course to the 2011 edition:
 

	2008	2011
Record (entering NCAAs)	31-2	30-2
Winning streak	21	26
Last loss	Dec. 12	Dec. 4
MAAC record	18-0	18-0
Notable wins	Utah, Nebraska	Louisville, Nebraska, Houston, Villanova

 
 
Given the impressive run the 2011 team was on, and using 2008 as a guide, it seemed reasonable to expect that the Red Foxes' seed would land somewhere in the 7-10 range.
 
The Red Foxes were keenly aware of the implications of getting either an 8 or 9 seed. Either would entail a strong probability of a bus ride to Storrs, Connecticut, home of the back-to-back national champion UConn Huskies, who would be a top seed this year. Marist had enjoyed its warmer-weather locations of the last several years (three trips to California and one to Louisiana since 2007) and was hoping for something similar.
 
The good news is, Marist earned its second-best seed in program history. The better news was the location. As a #10 seed, the Red Foxes were on their way to Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, where they would face #7 seed Iowa State in round one. Marist had played Duke at the Blue Devils' fabled home court in its second game of the 2006-07 season, meaning that it would be the first collegiate game there for this group of Red Foxes.
 
Iowa State had established itself as a model of consistency under head coach Bill Fennelly and had made a considerable amount of noise in recent NCAA play. The Cyclones were making their fifth straight NCAA appearance and had reached the Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen the last two seasons. The 2010-11 squad arrived in North Carolina with a 22-10 record, offensive prowess, and size.
 
The Cyclones' leading scorer was 6-foot-1 guard Kelsey Bolte, who averaged 16.9 points per game and shot over 42 percent from three-point range. Five Cyclones averaged over eight points per game, and Iowa State shot 37 percent as a team from beyond the arc. The Cyclones' starting lineup against Marist stood 5-7, 5-11, 6-1, 6-2, and 6-7.
 
Although Marist entered the contest with a 26-game winning streak, the Red Foxes had not been at their best in in the MAAC Championship two weekends prior. In his pregame interview with Geoff Brault for the Red Fox Network, head coach Brian Giorgis cited a few key factors for success against Iowa State:
 

• Getting off to a fast start. "If we can stay with them from the beginning, I think we have a good shot," Giorgis said.
• Getting balanced scoring in support of Erica Allenspach.
• Contending with the size of Iowa State's front line.

 
To say Giorgis nailed the essentials of this game would be an understatement.  
 
An early 8-0 run staked the Red Foxes to a six-point lead less than two minutes in. Iowa State did re-claim a one-point lead with eight minutes left in the first half, until Marist countered with threes by Elise Caron and Corielle Yarde on its next two possessions. The Red Foxes' lead ballooned to 20 in the first half, was 15 at halftime, and never was less than six in the second half.
 
The balance in Marist's scoring was equally impressive. For the first time in two seasons, five Red Foxes – the entire starting lineup – scored in double figures. Kate Oliver led the way with 16. Brandy Gang, who hit two three-pointers in the first two minutes of the game, had 13. Yarde and Caron both had 12, and Caron added eight assists against just two turnovers.
 
As for Allenspach, it speaks to her greatness that on a day when she shot 2-for-8 from the field, her impact on the game was immense. She finished with 11 points, six rebounds, five assists (with zero turnovers), a blocked shot, and a steal in 37 minutes. She turned in a stellar defensive performance on Bolte, who scored 18 points but shot 6-for-20 in the process.
 
Although Marist was outrebounded 48-29, the Red Foxes were truly the best version of themselves. They had 21 assists on their 24 field goals while committing just seven turnovers. Marist held a 26-4 advantage in points off turnovers, as they forced 17 from the Cyclones.
 
The Red Foxes' 74-64 victory was their fourth in NCAA Tournament play in program history.
 

Round Two

Here lies one of the greatest "what-ifs" of the Red Foxes' dynasty.
 
The round two match-up between Marist and host Duke was akin to a heavyweight bout. Marist came in at 31-2 and had the nation's longest winning streak at 27 games, while Duke was 30-3. Once again, the Red Foxes started fast. They built a 10-point lead on two occasions in the first half.
 
The advantage stood at four at the 5:44 mark when Allenspach injured her ankle in a collision with a teammate. Allenspach had earned her place on the Mount Rushmore of the program's greats for not only her all-around excellence, but her toughness. If she could walk, she could play. The problem was, she couldn't get a shoe on over her injured ankle.
 
Marist's lead went back up to 11 on two occasions early in the second half, and the Red Foxes still led by six with five minutes to play and a second Sweet Sixteen appearance in five years within their sights. However, the team that led the nation in fewest turnovers per game began to wear down against Duke's constant pressure. The Red Foxes committed four turnovers in a span of less than three minutes, which led to eight Duke points.
 
Still, the Red Foxes had come too far to give in. Duke led by five until a Caron three cut it to two with 40 seconds left. After two free throws by Duke's Crystal Thomas, Oliver countered with a layup with 15 ticks left. Marist had a chance at a game-tying three in the final seconds, but it was not to be.
 
Despite a 25-point, 12-rebound performance from Yarde, Marist's season came to an end with a 71-66 defeat.
 

Fun Facts

• The Class of 2011 – Allenspach, Caron, and Maria Laterza – had a career record of 100 games over .500. With a 118-18 mark, this remains the winningest class in program history to date.
• Bill Fennelly is now in his 28^th season at Iowa State's head coach.
• Joanne P. McCallie, who coached Duke from 2007-20, is the aunt of Allie Clement, who played at Marist from 2014-19.
• Duke had five double-digit scorers against Marist. All five have played in the WNBA:
  • Jasmine Thomas (Duke's leading scorer with 17) – 13^th year in the WNBA, currently with the Los Angeles Sparks, and a five-time All-Defensive Team selection.
  • Chelsea Gray – ninth year in the WNBA, currently with the Las Vegas Aces, two-time WNBA champion.
  • Haley Peters – four-year WNBA career with three teams.
  • Karima Christmas – 10-year WNBA career with five teams, currently an assistant coach with the Indiana Fever.
  • Krystal Thomas – seven-year WNBA career with four teams.

 

Coming Up Next

The Red Foxes survive a scare in the 2012 MAAC championship to produce a familiar result and a significant milestone for Coach Giorgis.