ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (March 13, 2025)—Mount St. Mary’s women’s basketball looked poised to run away with a victory of Marist Thursday. But the scrappy Red Foxes, with their season on the line, mounted an impressive comeback effort to put the Mount on the brink. Critical free throws down the stretch staved off the attempt and the team advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) semifinals.
A 15-0 run in the second quarter helped the Mount grab the lead after a solid Marist start. Jo Raflo hit the go-ahead bucket to put the game at 22-21. Unrelenting, three-point shooting was red hot as the team went 6-for-9, capped off by a triple from Madison Ruff. The fourth seed led 36-23 at the break.
Picking up where they left off, Mount St. Mary’s shot 50 percent in the third quarter and went 4-for-9 from long range. The lead would expand as high as 27 points with a layup by Tessa Engelman with 3:46 to go. Marist made marginal gains but still trailed by 22 heading into the final frame.
Jamison adds to the pot!!!
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??: https://t.co/qyxq0Vr6Oe pic.twitter.com/I49Fi5bAJ9— Mount Women’s Basketball (@Mount_WBB) March 13, 2025
With the score at 61-41 with eight minutes and change, the Red Foxes made their move. All-Rookie member Danielle Williamsen led the charge, bolstered by clutch treys for Marist. By the 3:35 mark, the No. 5 seed had cut the lead to 10. They would finish off a 14-0 run to pull within 63-59 in the closing minutes. Free throws by Nyodie Guerard and Gabrielle Kennerly held them at bay but with seconds to go, Julia Corsentino had the chance to play hero in a game-winning attempt. It went long, Kennerly snared the rebound, and hit the final two free throws to seal the game.
Ruff finds Engelman underneath!!
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??: https://t.co/qyxq0Vr6Oe pic.twitter.com/u6MJwPBWN6— Mount Women’s Basketball (@Mount_WBB) March 13, 2025
Mount St. Mary’s has now won a MAAC Championship game in each of the three years the team has been a member of the league.
Raflo led the Mountaineers with 18 points, followed by Anna LeMaster with 14 and Kennerly with 13. Jaedyn Jaminson collected her first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Williamsen had 22 points for Marist to lead the contest in scoring. Marist finishes their campaign with a 16-15 record.
The Mountaineers now look to dethrone top-seeded Fairfield in a noon game Friday (Mar. 14) from Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.