Since the onset of the NCAA’s transfer portal in 2018, Marist women’s basketball has never brought in a transfer from within its conference, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
After the 2024-2025 season, that all changed; the Red Foxes dipped into the portal and successfully recruited 6-foot-2 junior forward Karly Fischer just days after the men’s squad landed their first inter-MAAC transfer, Justin Menard.
Despite joining Marist after spending her first two years with the Fairfield Stags, Fischer is no stranger to Poughkeepsie or the Red Fox coaching staff.
Fischer’s first collegiate offer out of Albertus Magnus High School came from Marist, a team whose current assistant coach had known Fischer since her childhood. Nick Volchok coached Fischer in AAU basketball at Empire Basketball Club, making the recruitment to Poughkeepsie a full-circle moment.
The Tappan, N.Y., native, however, decided on Fairfield. She spent the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons in Connecticut, finishing with a start, 10.2 minutes per game, over two rebounds per game, eight blocks and seven steals in 30 games during her freshman campaign.
The forward loved her time with the Stags, but she did not see the court in 2024-2025. She and the team made the mutual decision to redshirt after her 30 games played the year prior.
“I knew that I wanted to develop my game better, and in order to do that, I needed to take a lot of time, especially to fit in with their system. I needed that year to just get better and build my game a little bit [and] develop my skills,” said Fischer.
Despite redshirting in part to fit in with Fairfield head coach Carly Thibault-Dudonis’s system, Fischer entered the transfer portal after the season.
“I knew that I wanted a different role and that I wasn’t going to get it there. I understood that. I have a lot of respect for that team and program and the coaches, [but] at the end of the day, I decided that it wasn’t the right place for me,” said Fischer.
By this time, head coach Erin Doughty’s squad in Poughkeepsie began assessing their positional needs heading into the following season, and they needed a point guard and a post.
With just one incoming freshman, guard Justine Henry, the Red Foxes had two open spots for transfers, creating a perfect opportunity for Fischer.
Doughty and her coaching staff feel more comfortable bringing in transfers whom she and her coaching staff previously recruited to Marist because there is already an established relationship and greater sample size with the player, particularly at the collegiate level.
This, paired with having already seen her play in the MAAC, including two games played against Marist, made the decision easy; they wanted her.
“The second I entered the portal, Coach Nick texted me, and he was like ‘well?’ And I was like ‘well?’ It was clear.”
Karly fischer
In addition to the aforementioned assistant coach, Doughty wanted Fischer because of her mobility, athleticism, defensive ability, ball screen coverage, unique size, ability to take 15-18 footers and prior two-year experience at a powerhouse with three years of eligibility remaining.
“I think her unique size and mobility [are] something that can be very effective in our conference,” said Doughty.
The Red Foxes now needed to appeal to Fischer in order to bring her into Poughkeepsie, especially because of how often Doughty and her staff are in recruiting battles with fellow MAAC schools.
The staff made sure Marist was something Fischer might be looking for, got her to campus, and established familiarity with her amongst all the coaches.
Fischer, on the other side, did a few visits and took her time before deciding on Poughkeepsie. The open spot and willingness to bring her aboard from the start sealed the deal.
“That was so special to me because I hadn’t played in a year and they had so much trust in me already because they knew me as a player in person,” said Fischer.
Both Fischer and Doughty noted the importance of the previous experience with one another to the eventual decision.
“We [knew] her as a kid. We know her family,” said Doughty. “There’s some reassurance there when you know people who know her and you know her as well.”
“I trust the coaches so much. I’ve known coach Nick and coach E for so long. I knew it was a special place. There was something telling me in my gut this was the right place for me,” said Fischer.
The authentic, unique and fierce competitor always stays true to herself, but she will need to do so in a far bigger role than in her first two seasons.
“I think for us to be as successful as we would like to be, she needs to be someone who’s in contention for an All-MAAC team at the end of the year,” said Doughty.
As a player capable of putting up double-digit points, Fischer will play center for the Red Foxes after Morgan Lee’s departure to Clemson. She defends well, rebounds effectively and can dish the ball. Despite only practicing last season, Fischer feels more than ready to play plenty of minutes every night.
“I’ve been ready for this for a long time. I’ve been seeking this for a long time,” said Fischer.
Karly Fischer
In terms of preparing for the larger role, she knows the work will pay off in the end for everyone. She simply needs to trust herself, her teammates and her coaches. Since practices began in the summer, she has shown just this.
“On and off the court, we bond really well. We problem-solve together, and it’s a great group of girls. I love them so much,” said Fischer.
“[For] all four of our news kids, it’s like they’ve been here much longer than they [actually] have,” added Doughty.
Doughty likes the loud voice Fischer displays in practice, noting how well she has done and the seamless transition to her new team and town.
“I’m happy to be enjoying life here too,” said Fischer.
Her goals align with those of the team, too: keep progressing, especially in the standings and eventual MAAC tournament. The biggest threat to this goal of winning the conference will likely be where it all began for Fischer: the Stags.
“I love Fairfield, all love, but now when we play them, it’s the game,” said Fisher. “No bad blood, but I’m going to win.”
Edited by Hayden Shapiro, Ava Battinelli and Cara Lacey
Graphic by Quinn DiFiore
Photos used in graphic via Marist Athletics and Stockton Photo
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