JERSEY CITY, NJ. – Lexie Tarul scored 20 points and the game-winning basket to lead Marist women's basketball past Saint Peter's, 63-61, Saturday afternoon inside Run Baby Run Arena to clinch a bye in the MAAC Championships held in Atlantic City later in the month.
Danielle Williamsen added 12 points of her own in the victory, while
Malea Egan,
Julia Corsentino, and
Morgan Lee contributed nine points apiece.
With the win, Marist improved to 16-12 on the season and 11-7 in the MAAC, while Saint Peter's fell to 10-17 on the campaign and 8-10 in conference play.
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The two sides were nearly even through the first five minutes of play, with Marist taking a 7-6 lead into the media timeout behind five early points from
Lexie Tarul. Out of the timeout, the Red Foxes closed the frame with a 13-4 run to take a 20-10 lead into the second quarter.
The Peacocks came out firing to open the second quarter with a 14-6 run to trim the Marist lead to 26-24. However, the Red Foxes responded with a swift 4-0 stretch to push the lead to six into the media timeout midway through the frame. Out of the timeout, Saint Peter's closed the half with a 12-6 run to tie the game at 36-36 at halftime.
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Both sides struggled to score the ball to open the second half, with Saint Peter's carrying a 40-39 advantage into the media timeout with 3:58 left in the third quarter. After falling behind 44-39, Marist closed the quarter on a 9-2 run behind a three-pointer apiece from
Malea Egan,
Julia Corsentino, and Tarul to carry a 48-46 lead into the fourth.
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Leading 50-49, the Red Foxes rattled off a swift 6-2 run behind back-to-back threes from Egan and Williamsen before taking a 56-53 advantage into the media timeout with 4:39 left in regulation.
With the game tied at 56-56,
Morgan Lee found a cutting
Ciara Croker for a layup to put the Red Foxes ahead 58-56. However, with Marist leading 61-58, Fatmata Janneh nailed a three to tie the game at 61-61 with 3.3 seconds left in regulation. The Red Foxes never wavered, as Williamsen found a cutting Tarul for a drive and finish with less than a second left to win it for the Red Foxes, 63-61.
- With the win, the Red Foxes clinched a bye in the MAAC Championships later this month
- Lexie led the way with 20 points in the win
- She's reached 20 or more points in back-to-back contests
- Tarul added six rebounds and three made three-pointers
- Danielle Williamsen added 12 points
- Williamsen has scored 12 or more points in four straight games
- Morgan Lee totaled nine points and 10 rebounds
- Malea Egan and Julia Corsentino added nine points apiece from off the bench
- Marist will be back in action on Thursday, March 6, when the Red Foxes travel to take on Merrimack.
- Tip-off from Hammel Court is set for 7 PM 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.
