COACH GIORGIS ThankYou
A Celebration for Coach Cheers to 21 Years and Over 450 Wins at Marist! Head Coach Brian Giorgis is concluding his 21st season as head coach of the Red Foxes. He has the best track record of championship success of any coach in the 40-year history of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball. Giorgis led the Red Foxes to their first MAAC championship in 2004, won nine straight conference crowns from 2006 through 2014, including a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2007, and most recently captured the MAAC title in 2021. His total of 11 MAAC championships is the most in conference history.
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QUOTES
“What an incredible coaching career!”
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS TIM MURRAY
“Brian’s successes over the past 21 years here at Marist have exceeded everyone’s expectations. He recruited, developed and won with terrific basketball players, but more importantly, with amazing young women that captivated both the Marist community and the fans throughout the greater Hudson Valley. He established Marist women’s basketball as one of the top mid-major programs in the country. As we reflect on Coach Giorgis’ career here, we are grateful for his devotion and I look forward to his final upcoming season as our head coach. In looking towards the future, I am very confident in the transition of leadership to Erin Doughty as she has been at Brian’s side throughout every game of Brian’s career here at Marist. I have watched Erin grow and develop from player to coach, and I have been extremely impressed by her ability to develop impactful relationships with our current players and recruits. These relationships will be a tremendous asset to her as she continues the great tradition of success of our Marist women’s basketball program.”
“Brian’s incredible record of wins on the court speaks for itself, but is only a fraction of his amazing story.”
MARIST COLLEGE PRESIDENT KEVIN WEINMAN
“For decades, he has developed student-athletes on and off the court, as well as the next generation of women’s basketball coaches. Over the next year, we look forward to celebrating Brian’s accomplishments and contributions to Marist, and to welcoming Erin Doughty to her well-deserved appointment to be Marist’s next head coach.”
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FROM COACH
“It’s been an incredible ride, but it’s time. As sad as I am to see the light at the end of the tunnel, I am extremely excited for the future of Marist women’s basketball. Marist could not have made a better choice than Coach Erin Doughty to continue the legacy of Marist women’s basketball. She brings the enthusiasm, knowledge, and spirit of what the program has been about for the last 20 years, and I am confident that Erin can bring the program to even greater heights. I thank Tim Murray, Deb DiCaprio, Dennis Murray, and Kevin Weinman for one of the most incredible journeys that a coach could ever have, and I thank them for having the vision to see that Coach Doughty can take the program even further.”
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Coach Giorgis, Congratulations on a remarkable career and tremendous success elevating the Marist women’s basketball program to national prominence over the last 21 seasons. Your accomplishments on and off the basketball court are the envy of coaches throughout both college and high school athletics. Marist is proud of how you’ve built nationally ranked teams through years of MAAC dominance and great success in the NCAA tournament. But we’re most proud of how you’ve developed generations of student-athletes into great successes on and off the court here at Marist and beyond. Enjoy retirement, Brian. You’ve earned a spot among Marist’s all- time greats. Kevin Weinman President, Marist College
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THE INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE
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THROUGH THE YEARS
Look Back At Coach Giorgis’ Milestone Wins
On May 15, 2002, Brian Giorgis was hired as the head coach of the Marist women’s basketball team. The hire followed 19 years of excellence as girls’ basketball coach at Our Lady of Lourdes High School across town in Poughkeepsie, where he won 451 games. Giorgis’ first win at Marist came in his second try, and it was in his McCann Center debut. Following a season-opening loss to St. John’s two days earlier, the Red Foxes’ home opener took place against New Hampshire on Nov. 26, 2002. Marist fell down by 11 in the first half and trailed by six in the second half. The Red Foxes fought back, and Kristin Keller’s three-pointer gave Marist the lead for good with 7:10 to play. The Red Foxes went on to prevail by a score of 59-51. Keller, Maureen Magarity, and Stephanie Del Preore led Marist with 10 points apiece. Keller also had team highs of eight rebounds and three steals.
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The 2002-03 Marist Women’s Basketball Team
Coach Giorgis at Our Lady of Lourdes High School
FIRST GAME FUN FACT
Three starters in this game are current NCAA head women’s basketball coaches – Magarity (Holy Cross), Del Preore (East Stroudsburg), and New Hampshire’s Colleen Mullen (UAlbany).
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Coach Giorgis at Our Lady of Lourdes High School
The best track record of championship success of any coach in the 40-year history of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball. Giorgis led the Red Foxes to their first MAAC championship in 2004, won nine straight conference crowns from 2006 through 2014, and most recently captured the title in 2021. His total of 11 MAAC championships is the most in conference history.
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460 Wins at Marist Over
451 Wins at Our Lady of Lourdes High School 11 MAAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
2007 NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN APPEARANCE
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Thank You, Coach Giorgis
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THE FIRST TITLE 2003-04: Red Foxes Win First MAAC Regular-Season Title
To understand where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been.
In Brian Giorgis’ first season with the Red Foxes in 2002-03, Marist went 13-16. It was the program’s highest win total in seven years. It was also the last time the Red Foxes would finish under .500 for another 14 years. Although optimism was abundant within the program, it was not as apparent to the rest of the conference in the fall of 2003. Marist was picked to finish seventh in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Red Foxes’ roster featured a five-member senior class of Stephanie Del Preore, Maureen Magarity, Kerry Sullivan, Nina Vecchio, and Vicki Wancel, with Del Preore, Magarity, and Vecchio in the starting lineup. There were some bright spots early in the 2003-04 season. A 2-0 MAAC start brought optimism. There was a home win against Atlantic 10 foe St. Bonaventure. A 14-point road win at Tulane in its holiday tournament was impressive. The Red Foxes stood at 6-6 overall and 2-1 in the MAAC on the morning of Jan. 11, 2004. That afternoon, freshman point guard Alisa Kresge made her first career start in a home game against Rider. Kresge had two points, five rebounds, four assists, four steals, and no turnovers in the Red Foxes’ 21-point win. This game started a stretch in which Marist won 10 out of 13 and rose to the top of the MAAC standings. To this point, Marist had never finished in the top half of the MAAC standings in its five previous years in the conference. The Red Foxes sat in first place entering the final week of the regular season, but fell into a three-way tie for first with a home loss to Siena on Senior Night. Although the Red Foxes lost control of their own destiny for the #1 seed on the night of Feb. 26, a tangible goal remained in place heading into the regular-season finale.
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Win the game, hang a MAAC regular-season championship banner in the McCann Center. On Sunday, Feb. 29, the Red Foxes made the short trip south to face Iona in New Rochelle. Just past the midway point of the first half, the Gaels’ lead swelled to double digits. Marist cut the deficit to seven at halftime, and started the second half on a 9-1 run. The game remained close for much of the second half, until a freshman from Westchester County made her presence felt. With the score tied at 50 with 8:06 to go, Ossining native Shannon Minter hit a three- pointer to put the Red Foxes up front, and Marist held the lead the rest of the way. Another three by Minter with 2:12 to go gave Marist its largest lead of the game at eight. Iona cut Marist’s lead to three with under 30 seconds to go, but two free throws by Magarity closed out the scoring.
The Red Foxes had a 66-61 win, and a banner to hang in the McCann Center.
FUN FACT In the Iona game, Del Preore led Marist with 16 points – in nine minutes played. Despite battling foul trouble, she scored Marist’s first four points of the game, and first five points of the second half.
And the best was yet to come.
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WHY NOT US? 2003-04: Marist Wins First MAAC TItle The practice shirts were handed out in preseason, but they proved to correctly predict the postseason. The shirts handed out by second-year head coach Brian Giorgis read “2004 MAAC Champions … Why Not US?” Giorgis believed. More importantly, his players believed. The Red Foxes won their first regular-season title in 2004. The crown was shared with Siena, which earned the #1 seed in the MAAC Championship by virtue of its season sweep of Marist. The Red Foxes were seeded second. Their two regular-season games with Siena were competitive, but the Saints had the following in their favor entering the championship: • Pedigree: Siena had appeared in three straight MAAC finals, with a championship in 2001. • Streak: At this time, Siena had a 16-game winning streak against Marist, which dated back to 1996. • Home Court: The championship was held at Pepsi (now MVP) Arena, just five-and- a-half miles from Siena’s campus and the site of the Saints’ regular-season home win over the Red Foxes. On the other hand, Giorgis had a team on a mission. In the Red Foxes’ first five seasons in the MAAC, they went 0-5 in tournament play. The program had an opening-round win in Giorgis’ first season, but had not reached a MAAC semifinal to this point. That changed quickly, as Marist ousted defending champion Manhattan with an efficient 60-49 victory in the quarterfinal round. In the semifinals, sixth-seeded Saint Peter’s loomed. The Peahens, as they were called then, were guided by legendary head coach Mike Granelli, a nine-time MAAC champion. Marist seized control of the lead in the first half and had an answer for every Saint Peter’s run. A 62-54 win put the Red Foxes in the first MAAC championship game in program history. And their opponent wasn’t Siena. Fourth-seeded Canisius defeated the Saints by a score of 81-72 in the other semifinal. The Golden Griffins were a program on the rise under head coach Mike Decillis, and featured MAAC Player of the Year and Co-Defensive Player of the Year Jenel Stevens.
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In the championship game, the Red Foxes had several surges, but the Golden Griffins didn’t let them out of their sight. A 12-point first-half Marist lead was countered with a 10-0 Canisius run. The Red Foxes lead was back at 10 after 20 minutes, and reached a game high of 13 early in the second half. Canisius dug in, and it was clear this one was going down to the wire as the final minutes approached. The Golden Griffins got within one on a Stevens basket with 55 seconds left. On Marist’s next possession, Maureen Magarity tied up Lonnie Brown going for a rebound, and the possession arrow gave the ball to the Red Foxes. Stephanie Del Preore’s 29th and 30th points of the contest came on two free throws with 18 seconds left, but Brown had a putback on Canisius’ next possession. With six seconds left, Nina Vecchio went 1-for-2 from the line to put Marist up two. On Canisius’ final possession, a mid-range runner from Becky Zak came up short. Marist 76, Canisius 74. The Red Foxes never trailed in the game, and they were going dancing for the first time in program history. Del Preore, who finished the championship game with 30 points and 16 rebounds, was Tournament MVP. Magarity, who had 18 points and five rebounds in the final, was named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team. EPILOGUE In its first NCAA Tournament, Marist earned a #14 seed and was rewarded with some warm weather. The Red Foxes flew to Tempe, Arizona to face third-seeded Oklahoma in what would be the first of several match-ups with the Sooners over the next decade. Oklahoma led by 20 midway through the second half, but Marist used a 15-0 run to close within five with four minutes to go. Ultimately, clutch free throw shooting by the Sooners propelled them to a 58-45 victory.
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2003-2004
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Best of Luck Brian
Congratulations on your amazing Coaching career, we’ve enjoyed following you and the incredible years of success you’ve earned. Enjoy your Retirement on the Golf Course!
Rhett, Robin & Madison Myers Vassar Golf Course
START OF A DYNASTY 2005-06: Red Foxes Win ‘06 MAAC Championship Although the Marist women’s basketball team did not repeat as MAAC champion in the 2004-05 season, the groundwork was laid for the beginning of a dynasty. Nikki Flores, Courtney Kolesar, Sarah Smrdel, and Alexis Waters joined the program as freshmen in 2004 and were key components of multiple championship teams. Meg Dahlman (Holy Cross) and Julianne Viani (Rhode Island) arrived as transfers, and while they sat out the 2004-05 season, they had three and four years remaining, respectively. Junior college transfer Fifi Camara proved to be one of the most talented players to wear a Marist uniform in her two years as a Red Fox. Marist began the 2004-05 season 0-3 in MAAC play, with the three losses coming by a total of 10 points. As had occurred the previous year, once the calendar reached the second week in January, the Red Foxes stopped losing – this time almost literally. Led by First Team All-MAAC selections Camara and senior Kristin Keller, Marist won a program-record 16 straight games and earned its first outright MAAC regular-season title. Unfortunately, the streak ended with a 60-59 defeat to Canisius in the MAAC championship game. Becky Zak, who had missed the shot at the buzzer in the ‘04 final, was the ‘05 Tournament MVP. The Golden Griffins had no seniors in 2004-05 and were subsequently picked first in the 2005-06 preseason poll, with Marist tabbed for second. The ‘04 and 05 championship games and two regular-season meetings in 2004-05 between Marist and Canisius were decided by a total of nine points, with each team winning on the other’s home floor and earning one championship apiece. Head coach Brian Giorgis had put together an enhanced non-conference schedule at the start of his fourth season in 2005-06. Marist opened at UConn in the Preseason WNIT. The Red Foxes trailed by just three at halftime, which forced Geno Auriemma to deploy a five-guard look in the second half. Of course, one of his guards was 6-foot-3 Ann Strother. UConn ended up winning by 26. Marist’s next contest was the first collegiate home game for Poughkeepsie native Viani, as the Red Foxes matched up against Villanova, and Julianne’s older sister, Jenna. Villanova won a hard-fought game by four. The Red Foxes fell to 0-4 with losses at New Hampshire and nationally-ranked New Mexico. In the second game of New Mexico’s Thanksgiving Tournament, Dahlman’s three-point play with 1:30 left gave Marist the lead for good in its 52-49 win over Idaho.
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The Red Foxes caught fire after that. Starting with the Idaho game, Marist won 23 of its next 25. The highly anticipated first Marist-Canisius game of the season took place on Jan. 7 in Buffalo. Both teams entered at 3-0 in MAAC play. The Red Foxes took control of the game with a 14-0 first-half run and rolled to a 65-40 victory. Camara scored 20. Kolesar came off the bench and hit four three-pointers. Alisa Kresge, in what would be one in a long line of great performances against Canisius (more on that below), had 12 assists and no turnovers. Marist went 16-2 in MAAC play and earned the #1 seed by two games over Canisius. Camara was the Red Foxes’ first MAAC Player of the Year, Kresge was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight year, and Giorgis was named MAAC Coach of the Year for the third straight year. He shared the honor with his MAAC semifinal opponent, Iona’s Tony Bozzella. The championship format included a double bye for the top seed, so Marist opened play in the semifinals against the Gaels. Trailing by one, Iona had the ball with the shot clock off and 26 seconds remaining. The Red Foxes stood their ground defensively and advanced to their third straight championship game with a 60-59 triumph. And their opponent wasn’t Canisius. Under first-year head coach Joe Logan, third-seeded Loyola topped Canisius 76-66 in the semis. The Greyhounds were looking for their first MAAC championship since winning back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995, when Logan was a student manager. But the Red Foxes were ready. An 18-0 run staked Marist to a 36-11 lead at the seven-minute mark of the first half. Marist led by 16 at halftime, but Loyola fought hard in the second half. The Greyhounds got to within four with 2:03 left, but the Red Foxes shut them out the rest of the way. With a 68-57 victory, Marist had its second MAAC championship in three years. Dahlman was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Flores and Smrdel were both named to the All-Tournament Team. EPILOGUE Marist was a #14 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and took the short trip to Trenton, New Jersey to face third-seeded Georgia. The Red Foxes’ season came to an end with Georgia’s 75-60 win, as Camara had 20 points and 10 rebounds in her final game at Marist. Marist won a program-record 23 games in 2005-06. And the best was truly yet to come.
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2005-2006
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2005-2006 FUN FACTS • The 2006 season was not only Kristen Vilardi’s senior year, but it was also the last of her eight consecutive seasons playing for Giorgis. Vilardi played at Our Lady of Lourdes from 1998-2002, committed to Marist under head coach Kristin Lamb, and then played at Marist under Giorgis from 2002-06. • Due to a pair of departures, Brian Giorgis’ coaching staff for the final three months of the 2005- 06 season consisted of just two people. • Megan Gebbia was in her third year as assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach the next summer. After 10 outstanding years at Marist, she went to a highly successful nine-year run as head coach at American before being hired at Wake Forest in the spring of 2022. • Erin Leger joined the program as a walk-on in Giorgis’ first season. She gave up her senior year as a player to be on staff. You now know her as Erin Doughty, and you will know her as the Red Foxes’ head coach once April 1, 2023 comes. • In her nine career starts against Canisius, Kresge had 48 assists and three turnovers.
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BACK-TO-BACK 2006-07: Red Foxes Win ‘07 MAAC Championship By the time Brian Giorgis’ fifth season as head coach of the Marist women’s basketball team opened in the fall of 2006, the program was clearly in the upper echelon of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. There were two MAAC championships in the last three years, three straight regular- season titles, and three straight appearances in the MAAC final. However, Marist had not entered a season as the MAAC preseason favorite. That trend continued. Marist was picked second in the 2006-07 MAAC preseason poll, trailing the Iona team it had defeated by one point in the previous year’s conference semifinals. The Gaels returned a strong nucleus, which featured 6-foot-5 forward Martina Weber, the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year. The Red Foxes also returned a deep and experienced core, although they did have to replace 2006 MAAC Player of the Year Fifi Camara. Hello, Rachele Fitz! The 6-foot Fitz joined the Red Foxes from Seven Hills, Ohio as part of a freshman class that included Lynzee Johnson and Brittany Engle. This trio instantly became fan favorites, and glimpses into Fitz’s greatness came instantly as well.
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Marist opened the 2006-07 season at home against a good Stony Brook team. Fitz checked into the game at the 13:49 mark of the first half, and grabbed an offensive rebound on her first offensive possession. However, after picking up two fouls in a 10-second span, Fitz’s first half was over just 64 seconds after it started. In the second half, Fitz checked in at the 15:22 mark. Her first collegiate basket came on her first shot 1:22 later. In a span of just over three minutes, she collected nine points and four rebounds to help the Red Foxes maintain their lead in a highly competitive game. Marist ended up winning, 82-72. In 14 minutes, Fitz scored 17 points, grabbed six rebounds, and didn’t miss a shot. She was 6-for-6 from the field, and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Both Fitz and the Red Foxes were just getting started. There were numerous examples in the first two months of the season of how dominant this team could be. A 36-point home win over Dartmouth the day before Thanksgiving preceded a 50-point home triumph over Fordham four days later. In December, Marist’s second MAAC game was a 70-30 win over Manhattan, in which the Red Foxes set a program record for fewest points allowed to a Division I opponent. There was a 33-point win over traditional mid- major power Liberty on a neutral court at the Terrapin Classic. Marist was establishing excellence on its home floor and within its conference. For the first time in program history, the Red Foxes went undefeated at home. By season’s end, Marist had won 25 straight games at the McCann Center. The Red Foxes’ 17-1 MAAC record was also its best in program history. As difficult as it was to defeat the Red Foxes, it proved to be almost as difficult to decide who deserved the credit. Was it Fitz, who led Marist in scoring (14.9) and rebounding (6.2), was named MAAC Rookie of the Week 11 times, and MAAC Rookie of the Year?
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Was it Meg Dahlman, who teamed with Fitz in the post and provided outstanding play on both ends of the floor? Was it Alisa Kresge, who was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year for the third straight season and provided excellent leadership at point guard? Was it the coaching of Giorgis? The answer could be all of the above, or none of the above. A team that won the MAAC by four games did not have a single first team selection, as Fitz, Dahlman, and Kresge were all second team honorees. For the first time since his inaugural season four years earlier, Giorgis was not named MAAC Coach of the Year. That honor instead went to Joe Logan, whose Loyola team was the only one to defeat Marist in conference play. Iona’s Weber, who was named Preseason Player of the Year, earned the honor following the season as well. For the 2007 MAAC Championship, the double-bye format was scrapped, which meant the Red Foxes needed three wins to secure their third straight championship. In the quarterfinals, Marist scored the first 11 points and cruised to a 55-42 victory over eighth-seeded Manhattan. The following day against fifth-seeded Siena, an early 10-0 run gave the Red Foxes the lead for good in their 71-59 victory. Marist was in its fourth straight MAAC final, and second-seeded Iona loomed. This test proved to be far tougher. The Red Foxes once again jumped out to a sizable first-half lead, which reached as high as nine points, but the Gaels fought back. There were nine lead changes and five ties in the game, and a frenetic final couple minutes. Weber gave Iona a 51-50 lead with 2:01 left, but Dahlman gave Marist the advantage back on the ensuing possession. Two free throws by Lauren DeFalco put Iona up one with 1:15 to go, but Julianne Viani tied the game on a free throw with 52 seconds remaining. Neither team scored on its final possession, and this became the first MAAC women’s championship game to go to overtime. Fittingly, Dahlman’s putback on the first possession of overtime gave the Red Foxes the lead for good in their 64-57 victory. Dahlman ended with 21 points, eight rebounds, and five blocked shots in addition to her outstanding defense on Weber, who was held to 12 points on 4-for-14 shooting. After averaging 21.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game in the championship, Fitz was named Most Valuable Player. The Red Foxes were headed to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year, and third time in four years. Their destination for the first two rounds was Stanford. As the Red Foxes’ plane to the west coast went airborne on March 14, 2007, the program’s national profile was about to take flight as well.
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2006-2007
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Thank You, Coach Giorgis
Congratulations Coach Brian Giorgis Catholic Charities Dutchess Board Trustee since 2013
You are a champion on and off the court! Thank you
A PROGRAM FIRST 2006-2007: Red Foxes Earn First NCAA Tournament Win By the time the Marist women’s basketball team reached the 2007 NCAA Tournament, Brian Giorgis’ first recruiting class was only a couple months away from graduation. Alisa Kresge, Shannon Minter, Kristin Hein, and Mary Alice Duff were freshmen in the 2003-04 season, when the “Why Not Us?” Red Foxes won their first MAAC championship. “Why Not Us?” was about to be taken to a whole new level. Expectations are a byproduct of success. The 2007 MAAC championship was Marist’s third in four years. The Red Foxes were no longer just happy to be in the NCAA Tournament. They wanted more and were in search of a signature victory against a power conference foe. There had been several good moments in recent years, just not wins. Marist had a season-low seven turnovers in a home game against Auburn in 2003. The Red Foxes threw a late scare into Oklahoma in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Marist led Georgia late in the first half at the McCann Center in 2004. The Red Foxes trailed by just one early in the second half at UConn in the 2005-06 season opener. A home-and-home with Villanova produced a four-point home loss and overtime road loss. Anticipation was abundant as the Red Foxes gathered at Shadows on the Hudson in Poughkeepsie for their NCAA selection show party on March 12, 2007. They were excited by the results of the evening for a few reasons: • Seed: At #13, it topped the #14 of the Red Foxes’ two prior NCAA appearances. • Draw: Fourth-seeded Ohio State brought smiles to the faces of Ohio natives Rachele Fitz, Lynzee Johnson, Courtney Kolesar, and Sarah Smrdel. The Red Foxes were in the Dayton Regional, so if they could reach the Sweet Sixteen, party at Lynzee’s! • Location: Stanford. This program always appreciated a plane ride and warm-weather site in March. The Buckeyes were ranked #5 in the Associated Press poll, and #7 in the USA Today/ Coaches’ Poll, and featured 6-foot-5 Jessica Davenport, the three-time Big 10 Player
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of the Year. So how is this a #4 seed, you ask? There was some uncertainty following a season-ending injury to star guard Brandie Hoskins, who averaged 14.3 points per game. This was a marquee first-round match-up. Ohio State was 28-3. Marist was 27-4. The 55 combined wins represented the highest combined total of any NCAA first-round game in 2007. In an oral history on the Red Foxes’ run in ‘07, Kresge described the journey out west as a “business trip.” As the game unfolded, it was clear the Red Foxes were ready to get down to business. Ohio State got off to a quick start, but Marist settled in. The Red Foxes took their first lead on a bucket by Rachele Fitz at the 8:56 mark of the first half. The Buckeyes went on a 7-0 run late in the half, but a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Julianne Viani cut the Red Foxes’ deficit to 34-30 after 20 minutes. The momentum did not swing to the Red Foxes immediately. Ohio State’s lead reached a game high of eight just 1:23 into the second half, but Marist remained undeterred. The Buckeyes had a stretch of six consecutive made field goals, but Smrdel kept the Red Foxes close with three-pointers on back-to-back possessions. She scored eight points in a stretch of 2:43.
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Midway through the second half, the Red Foxes tied the score at 49 on a jumper by Fitz. Viani’s three-pointer on Marist’s next possession gave Marist its first lead of the second half – one they would maintain the rest of the way, despite a late Ohio State charge. Marist’s lead reached a game high of eight with 1:02 left. A frenetic final minute brought Ohio State to within two, but Nikki Flores iced the game by draining two free throws in the final seconds. Marist 67, Ohio State 63. The heroes were numerous: • Viani, who shot 6-for-10 from three-point range, scored a game-high 24 points. • Playing in her first NCAA Tournament game, Fitz scored 16 points. • Smrdel delivered 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench. • Flores went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line and scored seven. • Consummate floor general Kresge had eight assists, four rebounds, three steals, and three points. She never came out of the game, and provided key help defense on Davenport. • The stat sheet will show that Meg Dahlman produced seven points, four steals, one rebound, and one assist. The impact she had on the game was phenomenal. Dahlman was the primary defender on Davenport, and the Ohio State star had 11 turnovers and 13 points (seven under her average). Dahlman was forced to leave the game after a collision which resulted in her head hitting the floor. She was cleared by Stanford’s medical team and said she “got more tired doing the clearance drills than I did during the game.” • Giorgis turned in a masterpiece. In addition to devising a game plan that neutralized Davenport, he ran a late game out of bounds play that he said he ran “twice in his career.” Flores was guarded by Davenport, who had a distinct height advantage. She passed to Kresge on the baseline, who then inbounded it to Flores, who was able to elude Davenport, get fouled, and drain key free throws. Flores said they hadn’t practiced the play, but Giorgis trusted they would execute it correctly. The biggest win in program history brought the Red Foxes to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. As we’ve said often, the best was truly yet to come.
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2006-2007
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Thank You, Coach Giorgis
HOW SWEET IT IS 2006-07: Marist Reaches ‘07 Sweet Sixteen
It’s unclear how much anyone in the Marist travel party slept on the night of March 17, 2007. On the night of the Red Foxes’ first NCAA Tournament win in program history – on St. Patrick’s Day, no less – there was much rejoicing to be had upon the team’s return to the Santa Clara Marriott. The players could turn on SportsCenter and see themselves and enjoy these moments with their families. Many recounted the joyous events of the evening. Some looked ahead at the next task at hand. Others waited until the morning for that. By the time the sun rose over the Pacific coast on March 18, the Marist coaching staff of Brian Giorgis, Megan Gebbia, Jada Pierce, and Erin Leger was locked in on the Red Foxes’ next opponent. The match-up was as formidable as it was fascinating. Fifth-seeded Middle Tennessee State was enjoying its best season in school history at 30-3 and was riding the nation’s longest winning streak at 27 games going into the second-round contest with the Red Foxes. The Blue Raiders were coming off an 85-46 first-round win over Gonzaga. Second-year head coach Rick Insell, who arrived after winning 775 games at Shelbyville High School in Tennessee, deployed a ferocious pressing defense. The Blue Raiders forced nearly 27 turnovers per game, and Gonzaga committed 37 against them in round one. Additionally, the dynamic duo of Chrissy
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Givens and Amber Holt combined to average nearly 40 points per game. Over the course of his tenure, Giorgis has occasionally quipped that when he arrived at Marist, the only thing the Red Foxes led the nation in was turnovers. By his fifth season, Giorgis’ starting five included three natural point guards in Alisa Kresge, Nikki Flores, and Julianne Viani. The Red Foxes’ fortunes had shifted 180 degrees. Marist was now leading the nation in turnovers – as in, committing the fewest of any team per game. The game plan was set, and after a practice which included the Red Foxes going against seven defenders to simulate the Blue Raiders’ pressure, it was time for the irresistible force to truly meet the immovable object. The Red Foxes didn’t budge. Marist jumped out to an eight-point lead near the midway point of the first half. MTSU countered with a 9-0 run to briefly take the lead, but the Red Foxes shut out the Blue Raiders over the final four minutes of the first half and took a 40-29 lead to the locker room. MTSU backed off its vaunted press and made several runs in the second half, but the Red Foxes had answers at every turn. The Blue Raiders’ final push saw them cut their deficit to five with just under eight minutes to play. Fear not, Red Fox faithful. Lynzee Johnson was determined to make her homecoming game a reality. Ever confident and charismatic, the Bellbrook, Ohio native had established herself as a valuable contributor off the bench as a freshman. On this night, she entered the game for the first time with 8:50 left in the second half, with a Sweet Sixteen game 17 miles
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from her home hanging in the balance. Nervous was not part of her vocabulary, but when she uncharacteristically passed up an open three shortly after coming in, she heard about it. Kresge was first. Giorgis, characteristically unfiltered, reminded Johnson that she “wasn’t in for her defense.” On Marist’s next possession, Johnson drained a corner three. She then converted a three-point play after a steal from Kresge the next time down the floor. On the next trip down, her pass set up a Rachele Fitz layup. These plays keyed a 10-0 Marist run, and the Red Foxes led by double digits the rest of the way. Marist 73, Middle Tennessee State 59. The Red Foxes were headed to Dayton to face top-seeded Tennessee in the Sweet Sixteen. They executed the game plan to perfection and committed just 12 turnovers. Flores shot 8-for-12 and scored a career-high 21 points. Meg Dahlman had 13 points and nine rebounds. Viani shot 3-for-4 from three and scored 13. Kresge had nine assists, and held Givens to 16 points, seven below her average. Holt was held to six points on 2-for-10 shooting.
EPILOGUE The Story of the Red Foxes’ frenetic next few days:
• Tuesday: Bus to Oakland to fly home, see Flores on the cover of USA Today (with Dahlman happily telling anyone who didn’t see it), fly to MacArthur Airport in Islip, bus home, greeted by adoring fans at the McCann Center. • Wednesday: Handle countless requests, prepare for Tennessee. • Saturday: Final preparations, including practice at UD Arena. That night, the Johnson family hosted the team for dinner. A Tennessee jacket was placed just outside the front door for everyone to step on before coming in. Indeed, a great time was had by all. • Thursday: See Wednesday. • Friday: Charter to Dayton. The following day, the Red Foxes’ historic run came to an end. Tennessee jumped out to a 22-5 lead. The Red Foxes fought until the end and outscored the Volunteers in the second half, but Tennessee prevailed by a score of 65-46. Dahlman led Marist with 16 points and eight rebounds. Candace Parker led Tennessee with 16 points and nine boards. Marist concluded the season ranked #22 in the final USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll, the program’s first national ranking in its history.
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FUN FACTS
• Marist was the third 13th seed to reach the Sweet Sixteen in NCAA Tournament history. None have made it since. • The 2006-07 season was Jada Pierce’s lone one on Giorgis’ staff. Stops as an assistant at UMass, Mount St. Mary’s, Army, and Saint Joseph’s ensued before she was named head coach at Niagara in 2015. Her Purple Eagles will take on Marist in Giorgis’ final home game on Feb. 25, 2023. • Marist was not the only double-digit seat that was heading to the Sweet Sixteen after a stay at the Santa Clara Marriott in 2007. Florida State, seeded 10th, knocked out Old Dominion and host Stanford to advance. Nine years later, the hotel proved to be good luck for the Denver Broncos, who set up shop there prior to defeating the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. • Tennessee went on to win the national championship in ‘07, with Candace Parker being named Most Outstanding Player. • In the 2007-08 season, Amber Holt led the nation in scoring at 27.4 points per game.
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THE RUN CONTINUES 2007-08: Red Foxes Win ‘08 MAAC Championship As Brian Giorgis’ sixth season was about to unfold in 2007-08, the Marist women’s basketball program had officially reached dynasty status. Marist had been to three NCAA Tournaments in the past four years and was coming off a Sweet Sixteen run. Giorgis was rewarded over the summer with a contract extension through 2014. The Red Foxes returned over 90 percent of their scoring from the previous year and were picked first in the MAAC preseason poll for the first time – unanimously. All four returning starters – Rachele Fitz (first team), Meg Dahlman (first team), Nikki Flores (third team), Julianne Viani (third team) – made preseason all-conference teams, with Fitz tabbed as Preseason Player of the Year as a sophomore. Of course, change is constant from year-to-year, and Giorgis’ first recruiting class of Alisa Kresge, Shannon Minter, Kristin Hein, and Mary Alice Duff had graduated. Kresge had earned well-deserved recognition for her leadership at the point guard position
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and prowess on the defensive end, particularly during the Sweet Sixteen run. At one point in the postseason, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Commissioner Rich Ensor had mentioned that he wanted to hire Kresge. Ensor was true to his word, as Kresge became his point guard (ahem, director) of women’s basketball operations. Recruiting is the lifeblood of any program, and the Red Foxes were hitting the jackpot annually. One superstar leaves, another joins the fold. Erica Allenspach stood 5-foot- 8 and was not heavily recruited but drew Giorgis’ attention for her all-around game and ability to make her teammates better. The Red Foxes also received significant contributions from Elise Caron, who helped solidify the point guard position for the next four years, and 6-foot-3 Maria Laterza, who did the same at center. Ironically enough, Marist opened the 2007-08 season at Ohio State. The Buckeyes prevailed 63-57, although Allenspach tied Lynzee Johnson for the team lead with 12 points. The Red Foxes responded by reeling off a 10-game winning streak, which was highlighted by a tremendous run at the Oahu Classic in Hawaii. An overtime triumph over Utah on Thanksgiving night preceded a seven-point win over Nebraska the following night. These victories grew in stature as the season unfolded, and the Red Foxes capped off the tournament with a 24-point win over Eastern Washington. Marist dropped a non-conference home game to Hartford on Dec. 12, but the Red Foxes’ next game at Albany 10 days later marked the start of two long and successful runs.
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Allenspach entered the starting lineup and stayed there for the next three-and-a- half years. The 75-71 Marist victory was also the first of a then-program record 22 straight wins for the Red Foxes. This streak included an undefeated run through MAAC play. The conference introduced an 18-game schedule when Marist and Rider joined in the 1997-98 season. In the 10 previous years of the arrangement, no team had gone 18-0 until the Red Foxes accomplished the feat in 2007-08. En route to perfection, Marist won seemingly in every way possible. The Red Foxes won close games (at Loyola and Manhattan by identical scores of 61-59 over a span of three days), blowouts (nine by over 20), and everything in-between. They held five conference foes under 50 points and scored over 80 six times. After their Sweet Sixteen run, the Red Foxes could no longer hide behind the cloak of anonymity. Marist was receiving votes in the national polls from the start of the season. On Feb. 12, the Red Foxes earned their first in-season national ranking in program history when they were tabbed #25 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll. Just 13 days later, Marist also entered the Top 25 of the Associated Press Poll. The Red Foxes cleaned up when the conference awards were doled out. Fitz, who reached the 1,000-point milestone faster than anyone in program history (61 games), was named Player of the Year. Allenspach, who shot .503 from the field and .493 from three-point range, won Rookie of the Year. Johnson earned Sixth Player of the Year. For the fourth time in five years, Giorgis was named Coach of the Year. Flores and Viani were named to the second team. Even with Marist’s outstanding resume, an NCAA berth would not be completely assured unless the Red Foxes could pull off three more wins in the MAAC Championship. Marist received everyone’s best shot. Although Marist had defeated Canisius by a combined total of 72 points in the two regular-season games, the eighth-seeded Golden Griffins went toe-to-toe with the Red Foxes. Marist grabbed the lead for good five-and-a-half minutes into the second half as part of a 10-0 run in which Canisius was held scoreless for 6:38. The Red Foxes prevailed 54-44 as Flores, who went 6-for-6 from the line in the final 91 seconds, scored a team-high 13 points. In this era, the only person in New York who closed games with more longevity and success than Flores was Mariano Rivera. A physical battle with fifth-seeded Saint Peter’s was next. Although the Peahens fought hard, Marist was in control most of the way. Saint Peter’s was held without a field goal for the first 7:44 of the second half, and Marist went 34-for-44 from the free-throw line in its 78-67 victory. It was the Red Foxes’ program-record 30th of the season, and they were in the MAAC final for the fifth straight year. For the second straight year, Iona was the championship game foe. The Gaels led briefly around the midway point of the first half, but the Red Foxes seized control thanks to a 15-0 run. Flores scored nine straight Marist points, and the Red Foxes’ lead
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ballooned to 30 in the second half. An 83-63 win punched Marist’s NCAA Tournament ticket for the third straight year. For a senior class that had produced so many quality performances in big games, it was fitting that Sarah Smrdel was named MAAC Tournament MVP and Flores was named to the MAAC All-Tournament Team. Smrdel shot .733 from the field while averaging 10.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. Fitz, who scored a game-high 20 in the final, also earned all-tournament honors. As the Red Foxes prepared for another NCAA Tournament run, it was clear that they were not going to sneak up on anyone.
2007-2008
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NOTES & THANK YOU’S
Brian! You have brought great success, enjoyement, and memories to all of us in the Marist community. Thank you! - Gregory Murin Thanks for the memories! - Joseph Pantaleo Brian, We hope the years that lie ahead are as rewarding and fulfilling as these years that you leave behind. We have enjoyed sharing your success and many memorable
moments with you. - Pegeen & Tom Wall Best wishes for a long retirement following asuccessful career. - Joe Walsh
Jeanine Thompson Real Estate Salesperson Hudson Valley Properties 1100 Route 55, Suite 201 LaGrangeville, NY 12540
o: 845.905.8761 m: 845.240.3248 jthompson@bhhshudsonvalley.com jeaninethompson.bhhshudsonvalley.com
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Coach Brian Giorgis
The James J. McCann Charitable Trust Thank You on a fantastic career! from
TOURNAMENT WIN 2007-08: Red Foxes Top DePaul in ‘08 NCAA On the one-year anniversary of the Marist women’s basketball team’s first NCAA Tournament victory, it was evident how much the program’s national profile had grown over the previous 366 days. As the Red Foxes headed to Shadows on the evening of March 17, 2008 for their NCAA selection show gathering, it was possible that the previous year’s Cinderella could be a first-round favorite this time around. The previous year, Marist entered the NCAA Tournament as a #13 seed, its best in program history, and then embarked on its run to the Sweet Sixteen. The Red Foxes entered the 2008 NCAA Tournament with a 31-2 record, a 21-game winning streak that extended over three months, high-profile non-conference victories, and a national ranking of #22 in both major polls.
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The Red Foxes’ resume was boosted by their wins over eventual NCAA Tournament teams Utah and Nebraska at the Oahu Classic over Thanksgiving Weekend. Marist’s only two regular-season losses came to Ohio State and Hartford, both of which were also tournament-bound. Indeed, the Red Foxes were packing both their red and white jerseys for their trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Marist earned a #7 seed and would wear the home whites in round one against #10 DePaul on March 22. Head coach Doug Bruno had guided the Blue Demons to a 20-11 record with an 8-8 mark in Big East play. Allie Quigley, a two- time Honorable Mention All-American and career 2,000-point scorer, led DePaul with 19.5 points per game. The first half included seven lead changes and five ties, but DePaul’s six-point halftime lead at 37-31 was the largest in the game to that point. The Blue Demons took their momentum into the second half, as their lead soared to 13 with 14:13 remaining. With 12:48 to go, head coach Brian Giorgis made a three-player substitution, as Lynzee Johnson, Sarah Smrdel, and Elise Caron joined Rachele Fitz and Julianne Viani on the floor. A layup by Taylor Pikes seven seconds later increased DePaul’s lead to 55-44. But this game was about to swing dramatically in the Red Foxes’ favor. The Caron-Viani-Johnson-Fitz-Smrdel quintet shut out DePaul for over four minutes.
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A pair of free throws by Fitz with 11:46 remaining cut the deficit to nine. Smrdel, who consistently made big plays off the bench in postseason play, hit a three on Marist’s next possession. Then Viani took over. She drained three three-pointers in 98 seconds, and suddenly the Red Foxes had a three-point lead with 8:55 to play. With 8:30 to play, a layup by Caprice Smith cut Marist’s lead to one. The Red Foxes literally slammed the door after that. One could say they locked and deadbolted it, too, as they shut DePaul out the rest of the way and forced the Blue Demons to miss their final 15 shots. Quigley, who led the Blue Demons with 15 points, was held to 6-for-19 from the field. Marist scored the game’s last 18 points. Six came from Fitz, who scored a game-high 23 while going 10-for-13 from the field. Four came from Caron, who finished with six points, five assists, and no turnovers over 20 minutes in her first NCAA Tournament game. The final points were scored on a layup by senior Alexis Waters, and the Red Foxes had a 76-57 triumph for their third NCAA Tournament win in two years. The Red Foxes closed the game on a 32-2 run, which improved their record to 32-2 on March 22. Happy 3-2-2 day to all who celebrate!
ROUND TWO
The Red Foxes’ winning streak had reached 22, which was the nation’s longest as they entered their second round match-up with second-seeded LSU. The Tigers featured SEC Player of the Year Sylvia Fowles, who stood 6-foot-6, and won the conference’s regular-season championship. This was Marist’s seventh NCAA Tournament game in program history, and the first that was a true road game. LSU led by as much as 10 in the first half, but Viani scored eight points in the final 2:44 of the half, and Marist’s deficit was 29-27 after the first 20 minutes. The teams went back-and-forth early in the second half, and Marist still trailed by just two after Meg Dahlman’s bucket with 17:10 remaining. However, the Tigers then held the Red Foxes scoreless for nearly five minutes as their lead ran to double digits. Despite a game-high 21 points from Viani, Marist’s season came to an end with a 68-49 LSU victory. Fowles finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds and became the SEC’s all-time leading rebounder that night.
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