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Marist's Elise Caron drives past Loyola's Erica DiClemente in the first half of a final round of an NCAA college basketball game in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Bridgeport, Conn., Monday, March 7, 2011. Bob Child, Associated Press
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Marist's Elisa Caron takes a shot past Loyola's Meredith Tolley in the first half of a final round of an NCAA college basketball game in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Bridgeport, Conn., Monday, March 7, 2011. Bob Child, Associated Press
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Marist's Casey Dulin looks toward the basket as Loyola's Alyssa Sutherland guards her in the first half of a final round of an NCAA college basketball game in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Bridgeport, Conn., Monday, March 7, 2011. Bob Child, Associated Press
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Marist's Brandy Gang goes up for a shot past a Loyola defender in the first half of a final round of an NCAA college basketball game in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Bridgeport, Conn., Monday, March 7, 2011. Bob Child, Associated Press
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Loyola's Miriam McKenzie drives past Marist's Brandy Gang in the first half of a final round of an NCAA college basketball game in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament in Bridgeport, Conn., Monday, March 7, 2011. Bob Child, Associated Press
By Associated Press

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Erica Allenspach scored 21 points and No. 19 Marist clinched an NCAA tournament bid for the sixth straight season with a 63-45 victory over Loyola (Md.) on Monday.

The Red Foxes (30-2) extended their nation-best winning streak to 26 games by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title for the sixth consecutive year. They moved up to 19th in the poll earlier Monday for their best ranking ever.

Allenspach, who was the regular-season player of the year, has carried the Red Foxes in the tournament. She averaged 25 points in the first two games, making 10 of her 11 3-point attempts.

On Monday, with her teammates struggling, the tournament's MVP kept Marist around long enough for help to arrive. With the Red Foxes leading by two at the half, the other four starters keyed a 16-4 run to take control of the game.

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Katie Sheahin scored 17 points to lead Loyola (20-12).

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