The Marist Red Foxes lost their home season opener, 71-61, to Drexel, a non-conference opponent, on Friday, Nov. 7.
Freshman forward Justine Henry recorded a better half than her total statistics in her Red Fox debut against Albany, with seven points and three rebounds in the first 20 minutes of play.
Henry opened the Red Foxes season at home with a floater up the middle, giving Marist their first and only lead of the game three minutes into play.
On the defensive side of the court, both teams played a tight man-to-man. Graduate student guard Amaris Baker took every offensive opportunity given to her, scoring 15 points in 20 minutes while playing every second of the first half.
Behind Baker stood junior guard Laine McGurk with nine; coming into the game against Marist, McGurk scored a personal high of 33 points in the Dragons’ first win of the season versus Pittsburgh.
The Marist bench created a spark late in the first quarter with sophomore guard Elle Bruschuk, sophomore forward Chloe Escanillas and junior guard Malea Egan checking in for the Red Foxes. With just two minutes on the clock, Bruschuk intercepted a pass off the Dragons, transitioned the ball up to Egan for a floater, closing the score gap to three.
Drexel answered right away, as did the Red Foxes. Sophomore guard Danielle Williamsen got the ball at the top of the key and drove to the hoop, making the score 14-11.
Junior forward Karly Fischer continued to struggle producing on offense for the Red Foxes, recording the most shots for Marist and shooting 0-for-5 in the first quarter after a 1-for-7 offensive performance against the Danes earlier in the week.
Fischer went on to score her first basket as a Red Fox in McCann in the second quarter, ending the game shooting 4-for-17 from the field.
“We are short-staffed in the post even when we are fully healthy,” said head coach Erin Doughty. “Fischer is stepping into a top player role and that wasn’t her role at Fairfield; it’s a new role for her here and it’s a learning curve that she is embracing. She didn’t play at all last year, so this is her second game in over a year.”
In the last three minutes of the half, Drexel knocked in four baskets, sending Marist to their locker room trailing by 15. After recording a total of 19 points in the first half, Marist nearly matched that in the third quarter alone, with 18.
Marist’s field goal percentage dipped as the Dragons shot around the 50% mark consistently throughout the game.
Egan repeatedly created a spark for Marist, shooting 42.9% from the field and converting from beyond the arc. After Egan hit her first three of the game, Henry sank two foul shots, making the score 47-36.
“Egan had a really good night. To see her carry practice into a game is really important for us. I like our point guard combo. I think they are opposites. Where [senior guard Jackie] Piddock is more methodical and Egan can use her speed,” said Doughty.
With the Red Foxes shooting 66.7% from the line, junior guard Julia Corsentino received a foul while driving to the basket and put the Red Foxes back within single digits.
Baker pushed Marist back to double digits, draining a three for her 20th point of the game with 41 seconds left in the quarter. Fischer fouled a driving Baker for her third foul of the game. Placing Baker on the line and ending the quarter, trailing 38-52 and notching the guard’s 1,000 career points.
The All-CAA first team guard ended the team’s win with 27 points, shooting 50% from the field and 42.9% from the three.
Redshirt senior guard Lexie Tarul did not find the hoop until five minutes in the fourth quarter, recording back-to-back layups and giving Marist a late spark.
“We need to get her going earlier. She is a quiet player who lets things come to her and we need her to hunt her shot more,” said Doughty.
The Red Foxes’ biggest struggle against Drexel came from rebounds, with the Dragons out-rebounding Marist on both defense (21-30) and offense (4-14). Drexel had 15 second-chance points in its 71-61 win.
Henry ended her second collegiate game shooting 50% from the field and 66.7% from the three, leaving her first home game in McCann Arena with 15 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Marist will continue to play at home for its non-conference slate on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. against Bryant. The team is looking to get its first win of the 2025-26 season.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Graphic by Cara Lacey
Photo by Marist Athletics
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