Quinnipiac took over McCann Arena on Sunday as the Bobcats’ immediate 25-3 run in the first eight minutes proved to be an insurmountable deficit, and they recorded a 76-67 win over the Red Foxes.
Marist’s shooting woes continued in the team’s loss to Quinnipiac, as the Red Foxes shot just 4-for-10 in the first quarter. Quinnipiac shot over 60% from the field and 50% from beyond the 3-point line, forcing the Red Foxes to play catch-up, while trailing 25-11 entering the second quarter.
The starting five for Marist featured three new faces with the usual trio of redshirt senior forward Lexie Tarul, sophomore guard Danielle Williamsen, and freshman guard Justine Henry taking a seat to start.
Sophomore guard Chloe Escanillas, who has been a consistent player for the Red Foxes this season, received her first career start against Quinnipiac. Escanillas has been one of the Red Foxes’ most consistent 3-point shooters, shooting 42% from beyond the arc thus far this season and 2-for-2 in the Sunday night matchup against the Bobcats.
Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter. The Red Foxes shot 3-for-13 from the field while the Bobcats went 4-for-13 from the field. At the sound of the second quarter buzzer, Marist headed to the locker room still needing to overcome its slow first quarter, trailing Quinnipiac 26-41.
During the off-season, the Bobcats lost standout freshman guard Gal Raviv, who was named MAAC Player and Rookie of the Year. Raviv now plays at the University of Miami, where she has seen consistent play time, averaging 12.9 points, two rebounds and 3.7 assists.
Following Raviv’s departure from the MAAC, the Bobcats picked up senior guard Sydney Ryan from Furman University, where she joined her sister, first-year guard Ella Ryan.
Sydney Ryan and senior forward Ella O’Donnell took over in the first half, both accumulating double digits in the opening 20 minutes of play, with Ryan adding on three rebounds and four assists.
Down 15 at halftime, Marist needed stronger shooting and defensive play after giving up 18 points in the paint and four second-chance points in the first 20 minutes.
Marist came out in the third quarter shooting the best they had all night, going 7-for-12 from the field and 2-for-5 from the 3-point line. The team’s offensive progression was not enough to overcome Quinnipiac, with the team still holding a double-digit lead over the Red Foxes.
The Ryan sisters accounted for nearly half of Quinnipiac’s points with 30 points between the two, as well as O’Donnell ending with 16 and graduate student guard Jackie Grisdale adding 14.
Tarul cut the Quinnipiac lead to the smallest deficit all game in the mid fourth quarter with a jump shot and a deep 3-pointer to put the Red Foxes within eight. Tarul led the Foxes on the stat sheet once again with 22 points, three rebounds and one assist.
Tarul provided a spark for Marist, with the team going on an 8-0 run in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. The Bobcats’ 90-second scoring drought came to an end with two made foul shots from Paige Girardi, making the score 63-72.
Marist showed a strong fight in the second half, with the team’s defense stepping up. In the first half, the Bobcats shot over 60% from the field, but by the end of the game, both teams finished shooting 45%, as the Red Foxes managed to match their efficiency.
MAAC play will continue at home in Poughkeepsie for Marist on Monday, Dec. 29, against the 2-0 Sacred Heart Pioneers, who defeated Iona in overtime during their MAAC opener, and continued their MAAC winning streak with a late second layup winner against Rider.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Graphic by Cara Lacey
Photo by Quinn DiFiore
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