SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Marist women's basketball team has advanced to its 10th straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship game. The top-seeded Red Foxes defeated fifth-seeded Niagara 61-36 in Saturday's semifinal round, and will face second-seeded Iona in Monday's championship game at noon.
Marist (25-6) enjoyed a balanced offensive output and stifling defensive effort. Nine different Red Foxes scored, led by senior forward Elizabeth Beynnon (Burlington, Vt.) with 11 points. Junior guard Casey Dulin (Milford, Conn.) scored an efficient 10 on 3-for-4 shooting from the field, and 4-for-4 shooting from the line. Red-shirt senior forward Kristina Danella (Manalapan, N.J.) came off the bench to score eight, and junior forward Emma O'Connor (Lynbrook, N.Y.) had eight to go along with a team-high seven rebounds.
The Red Foxes held Niagara to just .275 shooting from the field (14-for-51), and an .077 mark (1-for-13) from three-point range. The Purple Eagles scored just five points in a stretch of over 17-and-a-half minutes stretching across both halves.
Kayla Stroman led Niagara (15-16) with 13 points and seven rebounds.
Monday's game will be televised on ESPNU.
The Marist Athletics Department will offer bus transportation for all those interested in attending. Buses will depart the McCann Center on Monday, March 11, at 8 a.m. and return to campus 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game. The cost is $15 but does not include a ticket to the game. Spots must be reserved by Sunday, March 10, at midnight.