2008 Woodie Awards
Marist to take on second place Loyola
Foxes can clinch regular season title with win
Eric Zedalis
Issue date: 2/15/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The first place and undefeated Marist Red Foxes (14-0) travel to Baltimore, Md. to take on Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) foe Loyola (10-4; second place in the MAAC) this Friday night, Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.
The last time these two teams met was in the conference opener back on Dec. 8. The first half featured seven lead changes and nine ties, but Marist pulled away in the second half to win 60-50.
Since that time, an already competitive Loyola team added a transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, Vika Sholokhova. The Russian junior center became eligible for the second half of the season.
Given this information, head coach Brian Giorgis said this could very well be the toughest game Marist plays before the tournament.
"They gave us a tough time up here [at home], and they've added a transfer from Pitt, who's their second-leading scorer right now and leading rebounder," Giorgis said. "I expect it to be a great game."
Additionally, Giorgis said the Red Foxes have to contend with the ever-growing "bulls-eye" Marist has inadvertently earned with all its success this year and in years past.
"We have the 'bulls-eye' on our back, and it gets bigger with every win," he said. "Especially with [Loyola] being tied for second place. They're a very emotional team to begin with, so I'm sure they'll be up for this one."
According to Giorgis, the conference's leading scorer, Jill Glessner, is undoubtedly anticipating this rematch since Marist's Alisa Kresge held her to four points on 2-13 shooting the last time around.
"I'm sure [Glessner's performance] last time will motivate her this time," he said. "She's, right now, the leading overall scorer in the conference. Hopefully Kresge can do a good job on her again."
Although, Sholokhova could be the "X-factor" in this game since it seems Giorgis and the Red Foxes know little about her.
"We don't know that much about her other than that she's a foreign kid from Russia who played at Pitt and transferred," he said. "[She's a] thick person who's a very good rebounder, strong inside player, and has a nice shooting touch from 15-17 feet."
What Giorgis and the team does know, however, is that Loyola does a great job of getting to the foul line. In just the first half of these two teams' first meeting, there were 24 fouls.
"They get to the free-throw line more than anybody else in the league, and that's one thing we're going to have to keep them from doing," he said.
The Red Foxes' three remaining games after the Loyola games are home against Rider, at Iona, and and then back home for Fairfield. The MAAC tournament starts on Mar. 1.
The last time these two teams met was in the conference opener back on Dec. 8. The first half featured seven lead changes and nine ties, but Marist pulled away in the second half to win 60-50.
Since that time, an already competitive Loyola team added a transfer from the University of Pittsburgh, Vika Sholokhova. The Russian junior center became eligible for the second half of the season.
Given this information, head coach Brian Giorgis said this could very well be the toughest game Marist plays before the tournament.
"They gave us a tough time up here [at home], and they've added a transfer from Pitt, who's their second-leading scorer right now and leading rebounder," Giorgis said. "I expect it to be a great game."
Additionally, Giorgis said the Red Foxes have to contend with the ever-growing "bulls-eye" Marist has inadvertently earned with all its success this year and in years past.
"We have the 'bulls-eye' on our back, and it gets bigger with every win," he said. "Especially with [Loyola] being tied for second place. They're a very emotional team to begin with, so I'm sure they'll be up for this one."
According to Giorgis, the conference's leading scorer, Jill Glessner, is undoubtedly anticipating this rematch since Marist's Alisa Kresge held her to four points on 2-13 shooting the last time around.
"I'm sure [Glessner's performance] last time will motivate her this time," he said. "She's, right now, the leading overall scorer in the conference. Hopefully Kresge can do a good job on her again."
Although, Sholokhova could be the "X-factor" in this game since it seems Giorgis and the Red Foxes know little about her.
"We don't know that much about her other than that she's a foreign kid from Russia who played at Pitt and transferred," he said. "[She's a] thick person who's a very good rebounder, strong inside player, and has a nice shooting touch from 15-17 feet."
What Giorgis and the team does know, however, is that Loyola does a great job of getting to the foul line. In just the first half of these two teams' first meeting, there were 24 fouls.
"They get to the free-throw line more than anybody else in the league, and that's one thing we're going to have to keep them from doing," he said.
The Red Foxes' three remaining games after the Loyola games are home against Rider, at Iona, and and then back home for Fairfield. The MAAC tournament starts on Mar. 1.
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