HAMDEN, Conn. – Junior Ciara Croker scored a team-high 10 points to lead Marist women’s basketball, but it wasn’t enough as the Red Foxes came up short on the road against MAAC foe Quinnipiac, 64-52, Saturday afternoon inside M&T Bank Arena.
With the loss, Marist fell to 7-7 on the season and 2-2 in the MAAC, while Quinnipiac improved to 12-1 on the campaign and 4-0 in conference play.
First Quarter
Marist opened the contest with a 5-0 run before Quinnipiac responded with a 7-3 stretch into the media timeout. After the Bobcats pushed ahead 14-10, Marist closed the quarter with a quick 5-2 run, capped by a Morgan Lee three to trim the deficit to 16-15 entering the second.
Second Quarter
The Red Foxes opened the frame with a 5-2 run, capped by a Malea Egan three, to take a 20-18 lead. However, the Bobcats responded with a 9-3 stretch into the media timeout, taking a 27-23 advantage into the break.
After falling behind 31-23, Marist closed the half with a 10-2 run, capped by a Ciara Croker three to tie the contest at 33-33 into halftime.
Third Quarter
The Red Foxes struggled offensively in the frame, scoring 10 points on 20.0% shooting, but a few timely three-pointers from Lexie Tarul kept Marist in the contest as the deficit into the fourth was 45-43.
Fourth Quarter
The Bobcats held Marist to just one made field goal through the first five minutes of action in the half, pushing their lead to 51-46 at the media timeout with 4:57 left in regulation.
Quinnipiac scored four straight points out of the break to extend the Marist deficit to nine. The hole proved to be too deep to dig out of, as the Red Foxes came up short, 64-52.