POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and missed opportunities, the Marist women’s basketball team secured a narrow 56-53 victory over Saint Peter’s on Saturday at McCann Recreation Center, snapping a two-game skid.

The contest, a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matchup witnessed by 1,273 fans, was a battle of attrition. Neither team shot above 38% from the field, and the combined assist total was a mere 14. The outcome hinged on Marist’s ability to capitalize on Saint Peter’s mistakes and execute in the final minutes from the free-throw line.

Marist improved to 10-15 overall, while Saint Peter’s fell to 6-17.

The game’s pivotal sequence unfolded in the closing 30 seconds. With Marist clinging to a 54-53 lead after a Lexie Tarul free throw, Saint Peter’s committed a critical turnover on an inbound play. The Red Foxes’ Jackie Piddock was fouled with six seconds remaining and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to three.

Saint Peter’s had one final chance, but Louella Allana’s desperation three-point attempt was blocked by Chloe Escanillas as time expired, sealing the win for the home team.

The most important part of the game was the final two minutes, a stretch defined by defensive stands and clutch free throws. After Saint Peter’s Nikola Zdenkova hit a three-pointer to cut Marist’s lead to 51-50 with 1:52 left, the Peacocks had multiple chances to take the lead or tie. On the ensuing possession, they grabbed four offensive rebounds but failed to convert any of the put-back attempts, a sequence culminating in a Ciara Croker block.

Marist’s Justine Henry then hit a tough turnaround jumper to push the lead back to three. After Saint Peter’s again cut the deficit to one, Henry drew a foul and made two free throws with 18 seconds left. The Red Foxes’ defense then forced the decisive turnover on the inbound, allowing Piddock to ice the game at the line.

Henry, a 6-foot sophomore from Long Island, was the game’s standout performer, leading all scorers with 21 points and adding 10 rebounds for a double-double. She also contributed four assists and was central to Marist’s offensive flow, especially in the half-court. Tarul added 12 points for the Red Foxes.

For Saint Peter’s, the story was one of rebounding dominance squandered by offensive inefficiency. The Peacocks, led by 6-foot-3 freshman Carys Roy of Cowbridge, Germany, hauled in 19 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive glass. The team finished with a 42-30 overall rebounding advantage and a 22-8 edge in second-chance points. However, they shot just 36.8% from the field and committed 14 turnovers, which Marist converted into 13 points.

Roy’s work on the boards was historic, but the Peacocks could not translate those extra possessions into enough points. Nikola Zdenkova led Saint Peter’s with 12 points, all from the field, while Louella Allana of Laval, Canada, dished out four assists.

The game was a low-possession, defensive struggle. Marist scored 56 points on 61 possessions for an offensive rating of 92.3, while Saint Peter’s managed only 53 points on 64 possessions, an offensive rating of 83.1. The Red Foxes were more efficient from the charity stripe, making 11 of 14 attempts compared to Saint Peter’s 5 of 8.

Saint Peter’s started strong, leading 17-14 after the first quarter behind early scoring from Zdenkova. Marist responded with a 16-point second quarter to take a 30-25 lead into halftime. The third quarter was nearly even, and the Peacocks entered the final period down 43-42, setting the stage for the tense finish.

Marist next travels to face Rider on Feb. 14. Saint Peter’s will look to rebound at Rider on Feb. 12.