Marist beats St. Peter's 70-57 for its 17th straight win

2/27/2008 8:12 PM

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) -Rachele Fitz had 24 points and 14 rebounds and Erica Allenspach added 14 points, leading No. 25 Marist to its 17th straight victory, 70-57 over St. Peter's on Wednesday night.

The game was originally scheduled for last Friday night, but was postponed due to a snowstorm. The two teams are scheduled to face each other again Saturday in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., as the Red Foxes (27-2, 17-0) will try to finish the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season undefeated.

Marist has already clinched the top seed in the MAAC Tournament next week in Albany.

Marist, which entered the AP Top 25 for the first time this week, has now won 66 of its last 70 games in the MAAC.

Tania Kennedy scored 14 points and Johnell Burts and Lauma Reke added 13 points each for St. Peter's.

Marist took command of the game courtesy of a 20-4 run over a span of 8:47 to take a 25-15 lead with 6:13 remaining in the first half.

Lynzee Johnson had eight points and Fitz had six during that stretch, helping Marist take a 35-25 lead into halftime.

The Peahens (18-10, 10-7) made a solid run in the opening stages of the second half, courtesy of three 3-pointers, the last coming from Burts with 16:02 left.