Marist (6-13, 3-6 MAAC) led by as many as 17 points with a dominant first half on defense. The Pioneers’ (8-10, 6-3 MAAC) final push gave them their first lead in the final minutes of play, leading to their 56-54 win over the Red Foxes.
After defeating the Pioneers back in December at home by three in a last-second push, roles reversed this time with Marist holding the lead over Sacred Heart until the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Once putting on the Marist jersey for the first time back in November, freshman guard Justine Henry has brought a spark that the program had been searching for.
One of Henry’s most impressive performances came against an NCAA-ranked opponent, LSU, at the Paradise Jam. Henry is the only player in the nation to tally 20 points and 8 rebounds against the Tigers this season.
Averaging 29.5 minutes a game and 11.6 points per game, Henry solves problems both offensively and defensively for the Red Foxes.
Playing man-to-man against Sacred Heart, the Red Foxes held the Pioneers to 1-for-11 from the field, forcing seven turnovers in the first 10 minutes.
In the second quarter, sophomore guard Chloe Escanillas stepped off the bench and immediately made an impact for the Red Foxes. Escanillas, who has shot consistently from beyond the arc, banked in five points, putting Marist up 26-16 at the half.
Junior forward Naluce Dudley came out of the half red-hot, adding nine points to the Pioneers’ total and shortening the Red Foxes’ lead to four with three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
On the Marist offensive end, the Red Foxes moved the ball, finding open shots in the paint and beyond the three-point line. After being called for her third personal foul in the opening minutes of the third quarter, Henry had a dominant quarter, putting up 10 points and adding two steals.
Ball movement and tight lockdown defense allowed Marist to maintain its lead, despite Sacred Heart’s offensive pushes. The Red Foxes closed the third quarter on an 11-0 run, leading the Pioneers 46-31 heading into the final quarter.
Before the fourth quarter, Sacred Heart shot 0-for-7 from the 3-point line. The Pioneers opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers, making the score 46-44.
Senior forward Lexie Tarul answered with a corner 3-pointer, drawing a foul and converting for the four-point play to keep the Red Foxes ‘ lead alive with five minutes left in the game.
Tarul doubled her point total within the final three minutes of the fourth quarter, with sophomore guard Danille Williamsen creating opportunities across the floor for her fellow guard. Tarul ended the game as the Red Fox leading soccer with 12.
After trailing the entirety of the matchup, the Pioneers went on a seven-point run with three minutes remaining in the game.
As the time continued to wind down, junior guard Missy Nuku found freshman guard Sophie Nascimento on the wing for the 3-point play, pushing Sacred Heart ahead by two, giving them their first lead of the game. With a chance to gain a two-possession lead, Wood drove to the basket but couldn’t convert as Henry grabbed the rebound, giving the Red Foxes the final look of the game with 12.5 seconds left.
With a last look, the Sacred Heart defense remained contained and kept the Red Foxes from tying the score at 56.
After scoring just six points in the first 15 minutes, Sacred Heart kept its head up on its home court and outscored the Red Foxes 25-8 in the fourth quarter, leading to their sixth conference win.
Marist falls to 3-6 in conference play and will return to Poughkeepsie for a Route 9 matchup in McCann against Siena on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Edited by Nate Shoemaker
Graphic by Cara Lacey
Photo by Xavier Angel
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