With no lead switches and continuous struggles on both sides of the ball, the University at Albany dominated Marist in the team’s first game of the 2025-26 season, a 74-46 loss on the road.
After suffering injuries in the offseason and only holding a four-person bench to sub from, the Marist Red Foxes have started the season in a difficult spot.
The defending regular-season America East champions entered the game with a different starting five that fell just seven points shy of the NCAA tournament, losing to Vermont in the America East championship.
Head coach Colleen Mullen, in her seventh season with the Great Danes, has created a winning culture for UAlbany. Last season, Albany posted an impressive 26-7, losing only one game at home.
Albany continued its strength of winning at home, doing so against the Red Foxes with their post players dominating the paint on offense and the sophomore guard duo of Delanie Hill and Martina Borrellas, finding all types of shots and creating plays in and out of the paint.
As expected, redshirt senior guard Lexie Tarul and sophomore guard Danielle Williamsen took charge of the Marist offense. Tarul lit a spark for the offense in the mid-second quarter, hitting back-to-back three-pointers and placing the Red Foxes within 10 for the first time in the second.
After Taruls’ second three-pointer, Albany called a timeout, wiping the little momentum the Red Foxes had. Out of the timeout, the Danes went on a five-and-zero run with Marist failing to gain a lead for the rest of the contest.
Albany dominated offensively and defensively, performing better in every statistical category than Marist. The same struggles of last season seeped through for the Red Foxes, who shot just 30% from the field and lost 17 turnovers, resulting in 20 points off turnovers for the Great Danes.
Freshman forward Amaya Stewart came off the bench, creating a major difference, shooting 61.5% from the field, ending the game with 17 points; the second-highest point total for the Danes behind Hall with 20 points.
Marist’s frustration became evident heading into halftime. The team ended the first half receiving three offensive foul calls and three missed three-pointers in the last 11 seconds. Tarul accounted for nearly half of the Red Foxes’ points, with 10 in the first half.
Down 36-22 at halftime, the Great Danes were shooting 60% from the field. Marist continued to lose momentum, never able to find any offensive or defensive rhythm. Albany continued to get the ball on the inside of the Marist defense while the Red Foxes were slow getting back on the transition, allowing Albany 38 points in the paint and nine fast break points.
Coming out of the half, the Danes continued to play full-court man-on-man defense. Albany shut down the Marist offense with Williamsen taking one three in the third and shutting Tarul down completely.
Promise for the future of the season came off the bench with sophomore guard Chloe Escanillas recording a team high 14 points in just 10 minutes of play.
The Danes continued to drive to the basket with the Marist man-to-man defense not adjusting. The Danes out-rebounded Marist on the defensive end as well, 33 to 22. By the fourth quarter, Henry, Tarul and junior forward Karley Fischer all had three fouls against them, and Albany officially blew open the game.
The Danes ended the game with their largest lead being by 36 points, never letting up and allowing Marist in the game. The Red Foxes look to get their first win at home on Friday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. vs Drexel.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Graphic and Photo by Cara Lacey
For more coverage of Marist athletics, follow @cfmarist on Instagram, X, TikTok and Bluesky, and sign up to receive daily alerts here.
