Marist Closes Out Regular Season With a Win

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Marist women’s basketball team closed out the 2016-17 regular season with an 81-76 win against Manhattan in a Metro Atlantic Athletic conference matchup Feb. 26.

Marist will be the no. 6 seed heading into the MAAC Tournament with an 11-9 conference record and overall mark of 14-16. The Jaspers ended up 8-21 overall and 4-16 in conference play to end 2017 as no. 10 in the postseason championships. The Red Foxes will play no. 11 Saint Peter’s in the first round of the MAAC Tournament.

Marist seniors Sydnie Rosales and Morgan Metcalf and team manager Huba Mduda were honored in a pregame Senior Day ceremony.

Sophomore Maura Fitzpatrick led the Red Foxes in scoring, netting 26 points and grabbing four rebounds. Sophomore Rebekah Hand dropped 22 points, including 12 in the first half, went 3-for-4 from three-point range and dished out eight assists in the contest. In 33 minutes on the floor Lovísa Henningsdóttir scored 20 points and snatched five rebounds.

Fitzpatrick got the scoring started for the Red Foxes by attacking the basket while Rebekah Hand looked to score from outside the arc, knocking down a trio of three-pointers in the first quarter. Henningsdóttir scored from inside the paint and from long-range, dropping nine points and also grabbing two rebounds. Marist made four of its six threes (.670), and went 10-for-14 (.710) from the floor in the opening quarter, putting it ahead 24-17.

The Jaspers were able to dominate the offensive glass early in the second quarter, cutting into the Red Foxes lead, but strong play by sophomore Claire Oberdorf kept Marist ahead. The defense buckled down late in the half and the Red Foxes went into the break with a 32-25 advantage. Marist forced five Manhattan turnovers and shot 54 percent from the field in the first half.

Junior Kendal Baab restarted the scoring for the Red Foxes in the second half, but the Jaspers’ offense was able to close the gap. Inside scoring from junior Kayla Grimme allowed Manhattan to take a 48-46 point lead into the fourth quarter.

Henningsdóttir and Fitzpatrick opened up the final quarter with consecutive three balls and Fitzpatrick continued to gash the defense, scoring inside at will. Grimme went 6-for-6 from behind the arc to keep the Jaspers on pace with Marist, but all around scoring by Henningsdóttir and foul shots by Rebekah Hand allowed the Red Foxes to prevail.

Grimme totaled 34 points and six rebounds for Manhattan in 33 minutes of playing time. The Jaspers outrebounded the Red Foxes 31-24.

The Red Foxes shot 30-for-53 (.570) from the floor, 10-for-18 (.560) from three-point range, and scored 36 of their points in the paint. They were able to force 11 turnovers and convert them into 16 points.

Marist is locked into the no. 6 seed in the upcoming MAAC tournament and will face no. 11 Saint Peter’s on Thursday, March 2. Tipoff from the Times Union Center in Albany, New York is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.