POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference clash defined by runs and resilience, the Marist Red Foxes edged the Siena Saints 75-72 in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at McCann Recreation Center.

The contest, played before an intimate crowd of 508, saw the home team execute more efficiently down the stretch to snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 7-13 overall. Siena, which had won two of its last three, fell to 7-12.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the final 13 seconds. Trailing by two, Siena’s Francesca Schiro missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer. After a scramble, Marist’s Ciara Croker was called for an offensive foul, giving the Saints possession with 2.2 seconds remaining and a chance to tie or win. Out of a timeout, Schiro’s desperation 3-point attempt from the wing at the buzzer missed, sealing the victory for the Red Foxes.

The game’s conclusion capped a back-and-forth affair where neither team led by more than eight points. Siena held a narrow 37-36 halftime advantage behind a 20-point first quarter. The Saints’ lead evaporated in the third period as Marist, fueled by a 12-4 run, outscored the visitors 22-14 to take a 58-51 lead into the final frame.

Siena mounted a fierce comeback in the fourth quarter. A 13-2 run, capped by a Nicole Melious 3-pointer with 4:26 to play, gave the Saints a 69-66 lead. The teams traded blows until, with the score tied at 72 and under 30 seconds left, Marist’s Lexie Tarul delivered the decisive blow. The sophomore guard from the Bronx, New York, sank a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key with 13 seconds on the clock for the final margin.

Tarul finished with 17 points and five assists, but the offensive load for Marist was shared. Justine Henry of Long Island, New York, scored 15 points, while Danielle Williamsen of Staten Island, New York, added 12 points, three assists and a key block. Point guard Jackie Piddock of Adams, New York, orchestrated the offense with eight assists and 10 points, including two crucial free throws in the final minute.

Siena was carried by the prolific scoring of Schiro. The junior guard from Hillsborough, New Jersey, played all 40 minutes and scored a game-high 26 points on 11-of-24 shooting, adding three assists. Caydence Hadley of Rochester, New York, provided 15 points off the bench, and Kaiya Rain Tucker of Philadelphia was a defensive force with five blocks to go with 12 points.

Statistical disparities told the story of Marist’s efficiency. The Red Foxes were flawless from the free throw line, making all 13 attempts, while Siena went 12 for 17. Marist also capitalized from beyond the arc, hitting 10 of 23 3-pointers compared to Siena’s 6 of 16. The Red Foxes’ ball movement and defensive pressure were superior, registering 11 assists and 11 steals against Siena’s five assists and 15 turnovers.

Marist’s offensive rating of 113.3 points per 100 possessions outpaced Siena’s 104.2, reflecting a more effective use of their 66 possessions against the Saints’ 69.

Both teams return to MAAC play on Saturday. Marist travels to face Iona, while Siena prepares to host Niagara next Thursday. The two teams are scheduled for a rematch in Loudonville, New York, on Feb. 28.