Marist Red Foxes - Womens Basketball

Womens Basketball

See also: 2004 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, 2006 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, 2008 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, 2009 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, 2010 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, 2011 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, 2012 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament, and 2013 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament

The Marist women's basketball team won 20 games for the first time during the 1981-1982 season going 21-10 under head coach Susan Deer. They would not reach the 20 win plateau again until the hiring of Brian Giorgis before the 2002-2003 season. In Brian's first season Marist would go 20-11, (13-5 MAAC). Since then, under Brian's guidance, Marist has dominated the MAAC with 8 championships and has become a powerhouse on the national stage.

The first conference crown came in 2004 followed by another one in 2006. Although Marist would lose both times in the first round of the NCAA Tournament (2004 to Oklahoma and 2006 to Georgia) these games were just building blocks for greater successes.

In March 2007, after a going 27-5 and making the NCAA tournament for the third time in school history, Marist's women's basketball team surprised a nation of NCAA fans under the leadership of co-captains Alisa Kresge and Nikki Flores, carried by Rachele Fitz. They became the third 13th seed to make it to the Sweet 16 since the women's tournament expanded to 64 teams. They defeated 4th-seeded Ohio State and 5th-seeded Middle Tennessee to make it to the Sweet 16.

In March 2008, the women's basketball team was seeded 7th in the New Orleans Regional of the NCAA Basketball Tournament where they defeated the 10th seeded Depaul Blue Demons 76–57. They were then defeated by the 2nd seeded LSU Lady Tigers 68–49 on March 24, 2008, ending Marist's 22-game winning streak.

The 2009 and 2010 Women's NCAA Basketball Tournaments saw Marist lose in the first rounds to Virginia and Georgetown respectively.

In the 2011 NCAA tournament the women's basketball team defeated Iowa State in the first round and were thoroughly defeating Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium in the 2nd round until Marist's best player Erica Allenspach was injured. Duke took the lead late in the 2nd half and prevailed 71-66.

During the 2011-2012 season the Marist women's basketball team won their seventh straight MAAC championship by crushing Fairfield in the MAAC Final 61-35. They would go on to the NCAA Tournament as a 13 seed and beat 4th seed Georgia 76-70. Marist would then lose a tough game in the second round 66-63 to the 5th seed St. Bonaventure ending another successful season for a team that was viewed as Marist's most vulnerable in years.

The 2012-2013 season was the third time in the last six years that Marist would go undefeated in MAAC regular season play (18-0). Marist cruised through the MAAC tournament and defeated Iona 72-48 in the championship game. This was Marist's 9th MAAC title tying St. Peters for the most championships in MAAC history.

Shortly after winning the 2013 MAAC crown Brian Giorgis was named an assistant coach for the USA Women's World University Games Team during the 2013 games to be held in Kazan Russia.

In the first round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament Marist struggled offensively and lost a tough first round game to Michigan State 55-47.

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