Lexi Tarul’s 17 Points Lead Red Foxes to Victory

POUGHKEEPSIE – 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.

First Quarter
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.

Second Quarter
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.

Third Quarter
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.

Fourth Quarter
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.

With the win, the Red Foxes open MAAC play at 2-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 season.

Marist will be back in action on Thursday, Jan. 2, when the Red Foxes return home to Poughkeepsie to play host to Iona.