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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Thank You, Coach Giorgis
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