NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — Merrimack edged Marist 59-57 in overtime in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Volpe Athletic Center. The Warriors’ Se’Lah Reddick hit the game-winning jump shot at the buzzer in the extra period. Marist led 26-25 at halftime, but Merrimack forced overtime by outscoring the Red Foxes 18-14 in the fourth quarter. Jackie Piddock led Marist with 17 points. Madison Roman scored 14 for Merrimack. Both teams struggled offensively, with Merrimack shooting 37.9% from the field and Marist shooting 27.9%. The Warriors improved to 7-7 overall, while the Red Foxes fell to 5-10.

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grinding defense and missed opportunities, the Merrimack Warriors edged the Marist Red Foxes 59-57 in overtime in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball contest Thursday night at Volpe Athletic Center. The game, played before an intimate crowd of 150, saw neither team lead by more than eight points and featured 13 ties and 14 lead changes. It was ultimately decided by a critical sequence in the final minute of the extra period. With the score tied at 57 and under a minute to play in overtime, Merrimack’s Madison Roman found Molly Manion for a clutch three-pointer from the wing, giving the Warriors a 60-57 lead with 44 seconds remaining. Marist, which struggled offensively all night, could not answer. The Red Foxes’ final possession resulted in a missed layup by Jackie Piddock, and Se’Lah Reddick secured the defensive rebound for Merrimack. After a timeout, Reddick then sank a mid-range jumper with just seconds left to seal the two-point victory. The contest was a defensive struggle from the outset. Marist shot just 27.9 percent from the floor, while Merrimack fared only slightly better at 37.9 percent. Both teams combined to go 9-for-37 from three-point range. The difference came in the paint, where Merrimack dominated, outscoring Marist 38-20, and in points off turnovers, where the Warriors held an 18-9 advantage. Marist relied on its efficiency at the free-throw line, converting 18 of 22 attempts, to stay in the game. Merrimack attempted only six free throws, making five. Piddock, a guard from Adams, New York, led all scorers with 17 points and added five assists in 42 minutes for Marist. Lexie Tarul of the Bronx contributed 11 points, while Justine Henry of Long Island added 10 points and two blocks. Merrimack’s attack was more balanced. Roman, a forward from Fairfield, Connecticut, posted 14 points, two assists, a steal and a block. Oralye Kiefer of Wayland, Massachusetts, controlled the interior with 11 points, four blocks, and a game-high 15 rebounds. Paloma Garcia of Corozal, Puerto Rico, also scored 12 points. The game appeared to be slipping from Marist in the fourth quarter. After leading for much of the first half, the Red Foxes found themselves down 52-48 with just 33 seconds left in regulation. A driving layup by Piddock cut the deficit to two. Following a Merrimack turnover, Piddock then drew a foul on a three-point attempt with 2.9 seconds left. She calmly sank all three free throws to tie the game at 52 and force overtime, completing a dramatic five-point personal run. In the extra period, Danielle Williamsen of Staten Island hit a three-pointer to give Marist an early 55-52 lead. The teams traded baskets until the score was knotted at 57, setting the stage for Manion’s decisive three-pointer. The loss dropped Marist to 5-10 overall on the season. The Red Foxes have now played four overtime games this season, posting a 2-2 record in those contests. Merrimack improved to 7-7, securing its second consecutive conference victory. Both teams return to MAAC play on Saturday. Marist hosts Rider, while Merrimack travels to face Siena.

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — Two teams looking to build momentum in non-conference play will meet Thursday when the Merrimack Warriors host the Marist Red Foxes in a women’s basketball matchup at Volpe Athletic Center. The game, organized by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, pits a Merrimack squad (6-7) above .500 at home against a Marist team (5-9) seeking its first winning streak since November. The Warriors enter on a three-game win streak, fueled by the dominant play of forward Madison Roman. The standout is averaging a double-double, coming off a 21-point, 17-rebound performance in a 67-59 win over Saint Peter’s on Jan. 3. In her last three victories, Roman has averaged 17.7 points and 14.0 rebounds. Marist snapped a four-game skid with its own 62-57 road win at Manhattan on Jan. 3. Guard Ciara Croker led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds, a return to form after a scoring lull in late December. Teammate Lexie Tarul added 18 points in the victory. The Red Foxes have shown a tendency for close games, with three of their five wins coming in overtime. Merrimack has been strong defensively during its streak, holding opponents to an average of 56.7 points over the last three. Thursday’s contest is the first of a quick two-game trip for Marist, which hosts Rider on Saturday. Merrimack begins a stretch of four road games in its next five following this home date, traveling to Siena on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.