Foxes to dance for fifth straight time

It comes down to personnel that can overcome adversity.

And although the other nine teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) might want to believe otherwise, the Marist College women's basketball team has it.

Even with the preseason loss of 15 point-per-game scorer Julianne Viani after graduation last May, the most conference losses since the 2003-2004 season, and a slew of upstart MAAC teams looking to dethrone them, the Red Foxes captured their fifth consecutive MAAC title at the 2010 MAAC Tournament in Albany, N.Y.

Using an 11-0 run late in the first half of play to establish a lead that they would not relinquish for the rest of the game, Marist defeated the third seeded Fairfield Stags to advance to the NCAA Division 1 women's basketball tournament.

"A lot of people, I think, doubted us," Marist senior and MAAC Player of The Year Rachele Fitz said. "They didn't think our team could win a championship. It made us want to come out there and prove everyone wrong." The Red Foxes' offense was effective in the contest, getting 17 points from Corielle Yare and 15 from Fitz, but it was Marist's defensive play that allowed the squad to capture the tournament title.

Allowing just 85 combined points in its first two games at the MAAC tournament, Marist played stifling defense and held the Stags to just one field goal over the final five and a half minutes of the game.

In a similar fashion against its opponents in games one and two, Marist held Canisius and Niagara scoreless for periods of 8:43 and 4:14, respectively.

"We talked all weekend that defense was going to carry us," Giorgis said. "I don't think our kids get enough credit for their defense because they've led the conference in scoring."

Giorgis, along with Fairfield coach Joe Frager were forced to enter into a strategic coaching battle in regards to two of each team's premier players.

For Marist, Fitz was hampered early by foul trouble and was forced to sit at the same time as Fairfield forward Stephanie Geehan.

Geehan came into the contest averaging 14.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, the only player in the MAAC to average a double-double, but was also forced to sit on the bench early due to foul trouble.

Giorgis countered with the play of senior reserve Lynzee Johnson, noted for her defensive smarts and awareness.

"We wanted Lynzee [Johnson] in the game as much as possible," Giorgis said. "Lynzee is the type of person who can frustrate you. She really, really can play [opposing offensive players] smart."

The contest was extremely close in the early going; it was tied four times with just two lead changes and neither team holding more than a four-point advantage until Marist embarked on its 11-0 run and held a 34-24 advantage at halftime.

Marist opened up its second half of play with extremely cold shooting, going just 1-for-8 from the field.

This allowed Fairfield to come to within four points of the Red Foxes after Desiree Pina hit a jumper and Katelyn Linney, a selection to the All-MAAC Rookie Team, connected on a three-pointer to make the score 37-33.

With 8:30 left in the game, Marist embarked on a 9-0 run and was aided by the Stags, who missed their next eight shot attempts.

Allenspach and Fitz combined points for the run, aiding Marist in a similar fashion to how they have led their team throughout the entire season.

"They stepped it up when we really needed to, that's why I think they're a very special group of people" Marist coach Brian Giorgis said. "They know how to win. They know what it takes to win, and they know how to rise to the occasion."

Johnson connected on a long three-point attempt with 23 seconds remaining in the game, putting her team up by 17, Marist's largest lead of the game.

Marist also got key contributions in the game from sophomore Brandy Gang, who went on a 6-0 run by herself late in the first half.

Gang struggled in the first part of the season, but turned in performanced of 10, 11 and 13 points during the last month of the season.

Increased production from the sophomore that was selected to the MAAC All-Rookie team last season could prove to be a key part of an instrumental Marist bench that will aid Giorgis' offensive arsenal when scouting who the Red Foxes will play in the NCAA Tournament.

In a tremendous display of consistency, the Red Foxes advance to their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament and their sixth in seven years.

"It shows that we can handle change, players leaving and new players coming in," Fitz said.