ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Marist women’s basketball has built a program identity in the MAAC, being a dominant, consistent team. This year’s tournament is not about defending a program legacy but about proving the Red Foxes deserve to be back in that conversation.
The MAAC all-time leader in conference championships has not hoisted the trophy since 2021. After an 11-9 conference record last year and a 16-15 overall record, the Red Foxes were voted to end fourth in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Heading into the MAAC tournament, the conference has not played out the way many expected. Notably, the Red Foxes dropped below .500 with an 8-12 conference record, going 11-19 overall.
Despite Marist’s losing record, the Red Foxes have had competitive games with all three top seeds, pushing both games against No. 3 Merrimack into overtime, limiting No. 1 Quinnipiac to its smallest margin of victory and holding Fairfield to 28 points in the first half.
But at the end of the day, Marist never entered the win column against any of the three. In fact, in the second matchup against Fairfield, the Stags broke three program records, dropping 109 points on the Red Foxes.
The major issue for Marist is consistency and dealing with a roster that has suffered unexpected injuries throughout the season – most notably, the absence of sophomore guard Danielle Williamsen heading into postseason play.
Setting the Stage
In the regular season, the Red Foxes and Jaspers split the season 1-1, with both games coming down to the final possession.
In the first matchup, Marist took down Manhattan 62-57 in Draddy Gymnasium. The rematch occurred in McCann with the Jaspers securing an overtime win over the Red Foxes, 66-61.
A common theme in both games? Senior forward Ciara Croker.
Croker, who averaged 6.1 points per game, had her best two games of the season against Manhattan. With 19 points, eight rebounds and three assists the first time around, and a double-double on her senior night with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Coincidentally, in what were Croker’s best games, the team performed below average in shooting. While Croker was near perfect in the overtime loss, the Red Foxes shot 23-for-58 from the field and a low 7-for-26 from the 3-point line.
Marist is a guard-driven team that thrives in transition and outside shooting. Despite having a small group of healthy players to come off the bench, the bench still creates a difference on the floor.
Whether it is sophomore guard Chloe Escanillias’ stretching the floor with her perimeter shooting, junior guard Julia Corsentino’s athleticism and ability to find open lanes or sophomore guard Kasey Bretones constant offensive proficiency as of late, the Red Foxes bring a tiny, but versatile bench to the tournament.
Defensively, Marist excelled at shutting down Manhattan’s senior guard, Brianna Davis. Davis has proved herself to be one of the best shooters in the league, earning Preseason All-MAAC Third Team honors and averaging 15.4 points per game. The Red Foxes held Davis to just nine points in both games, marking two out of her four single-digit games this conference season.
Typically running a man-to-man defense, Marist’s scouting discipline has proved effective at times, shutting down the paint or contesting outside shots. The one thing the Red Foxes need to work on heading into the game against Manhattan – and the possibility of Quinnipiac – is guarding the off-ball pick and rolls.
What to Look Out For
Turnovers. Turnovers. You guessed it… more turnovers.
Ball security has been a major issue for the Red Foxes all season. Marist averages 16.4 turnovers per game and holds a 0.7 assist-to-turnover ratio, numbers that make it difficult to sustain offensive momentum.
The Red Foxes need to take care of the ball by limiting turnovers and keeping possession through offensive rebounds to create more scoring opportunities.
Marist ranks last in team offensive rebounds, with 268 offensive rebounds across 30 games, averaging 8.9 per game and a rebounding margin of -6.3.
On the bright side, when the Red Foxes get hot, they shoot some of the best three-balls in the conference, at 33.2% beyond the arc. If senior guard Jackie Piddock can manage the floor and feed the team’s two lead scorers, redshirt senior guard Lexie Tarul and freshman guard/forward Justine Henry, Marist has a chance to punch its ticket to the quarterfinals.
Tarul and Henry have produced the most consistent numbers this season. When watching a Marist game, there is very little time when Tarul is not on the court, averaging 33.5 minutes per game. In her final season as a Red Fox, she has come up clutch in the fourth quarter with 3-pointers from the wing, shoooting 34.8% from the perimeter and 38.1% from the field. Tarul was named to the All-MAAC Third Team for her second consecutive season. In her final game in McCann Arena, Manhattan spoiled Tarul’s senior night in an overtime loss; in a game where Tarul played 38 minutes, she put up her 20th double-digit game with 15 points, shooting 3-for-8 from the 3-point line
In her first year, Henry shot 40.5% from the field in the regular season, while also being a defensive threat, leading the team with 7.1 rebounds per game. Due to her standout season, Henry was named a unanimous selection to the MAAC All-Rookie Team before the first game of the conference tournament.
Defeating Manhattan won’t be the most difficult obstacle for Marist, but if they do get over that hump, they will be met by No. 1 Quinnipiac, exactly 24 hours later.
Only 21 points separated the Red Foxes and Bobcats, a respectable number for Marist against the conference’s top seed. In the matchups, Marist took advantage of Quinnipiac on defense, holding the Bobcats’ bigs to shoot 0-for-15 in the first half, and a team low of 8-for-18 from beyond the 3-point line.
The Biggest Road Blocks?
Last year, the Stags defeated the Bobcats 76-53 to clinch the MAAC. This year’s final will more than likely see a rematch of these two teams, with very similar rosters to last March.
The Stags have been anchored by junior road runner Meghan Andersen and junior guard Kaety L’Amoreaux.
L’Amoreaux and Andersen rank first and third in scoring in the conference, both averaging double-digits, with L’Amoreaux averaging 18.5 points per game, followed by Andersen with 16.1.
Once the two get hot, there is very little stopping them. The last time the Red Foxes traveled to Fairfield in early February, Andersen dropped 40 points alongside eight rebounds and one assist.
Quinnipiac is led by graduate student guard Anna Foley, averaging 12.7 points per game and senior forward Ella O’Donnell.
Marist will take on Manhattan at 12 p.m. on Thursday, with hopes of keeping the season alive in Atlantic City.
Edited by Ben Leeds
Photo by Quinn DiFiore
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