POUGHKEEPSIE, NY. – Redshirt junior
Lexie Tarul scored a game-high 17 points to lead Marist women's basketball past MAAC foe Manhattan, 58-51, Saturday evening inside McCann Arena.
Along with Tarul's 17 points,
Morgan Lee added 12 points and 12 rebounds for the double-double in the victory.
With the win, Marist improved to 7-5 on the season and 2-0 in the MAAC, while Manhattan fell to 6-4 on the campaign and 0-1 in conference play.
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The Red Foxes came out firing, using the opening 5:30 to jump out to an 11-4 lead into the media timeout behind five points from
Lexie Tarul. However, the Jaspers closed the frame with a 7-3 run to trim the Marist lead to 14-12 entering the second quarter.
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The Red Foxes used the first six minutes of the frame to slowly extend their lead to 23-18 behind a three-pointer from
Malea Egan and two from
Lexie Tarul. After Marist extended its lead to 27-18, the Jaspers closed the frame with five straight points to trim the Red Foxes' lead to 27-23 into the half.
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The two sides were nearly even through the first 4:45 of the second half, with Manhattan narrowly outpacing the Red Foxes 7-5 to trim the Marist advantage to 32-30 into the media timeout. After the Jaspers cut the Marist lead to one the Red Foxes closed the frame with a 7-2 run, capped by a
Catie Cunningham three to extend the advantage to 39-33 entering the fourth.
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The Jaspers used the opening 4:44 of the quarter to go on an 11-3 run to take a 44-42 timeout before Marist called a timeout with 5:08 remaining in regulation. Out of the timeout, the Red Foxes responded with a 10-4 run to push ahead 52-48, forcing a Manhattan timeout with 1:18 remaining.
After Manhattan cut the Marist lead to one, Tarul scored on a mid-range jumper to give the Red Foxes a three-point lead with 38 seconds left in the contest.
The Red Foxes were able to get a stop on the ensuing defensive possession before eventually holding on for the 58-51 victory.
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- With the win, the Red Foxes open MAAC play at 2-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
- With the win, Marist has surpassed last season's win total of six.
- Lexie Tarul led the Red Foxes with 17 points.
- Tarul went 5-for-7 from the field and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.
- Morgan Lee recorded 12 points and 12 rebounds for the double-double.
- The double-double was her third of the season.
- She's tallied a double-double in back-to-back contests.
- Lee added three blocks, three steals, and three assists.
- Lee has totaled nine blocks in the last two games.
- Catie Cunningham contributed nine points, three rebounds, and two steals.
- Marist held Manhattan to 32.8% shooting from the field and 20.0% from deep.
Marist will be back in action on Thursday, Jan. 2, when the Red Foxes return home to Poughkeepsie to play host to Iona. Tip-off inside McCann Arena is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+. To stay updated with all Marist women's basketball news, follow the program on Twitter/Instagram @MaristWBB or visit goredfoxes.com/sports/womens-basketball.
