Riverdale, N.Y. - Three Lady Jaspers scored in double figures as Manhattan defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 70-61 on Monday night. Gabrielle Cottrell led the way for Manhattan with a team high 18 points, 15 coming in the second half. Amanda LoCascio and Caitlin Flood each poured in 15 and 14 points respectively.
The Lady Jaspers were on fire from long-distance in this game. Particularly in the first half, Manhattan seemed like they couldn't miss from behind the arc, shooting 6 for eleven, with LoCascio, Joann Nwafili, and Aubrie Dellinger each knocking down two. Despite their hot shooting, Manhattan trailed at halftime 35-28 due in part to the Knights' Christy Altamirano going off for 18 points in the first half, and FDU holding a 23-14 edge in rebounds.
Manhattan came out firing in the second half, erasing their seven point deficit quickly. Cottrell and LoCascio made consecutive threes to start the half. A bucket by the Knights' Shanay Freeman put Manhattan down 41-34, but a field goal by Flood jump-started a 9-2 Manhattan run that tied the score at 43. Two foul shots by Flood book-ended an 18-5 run that put Manhattan up 52-46.
Leading 54-49, a lay-up by FDU's Katie Warehime cut Manhattan's lead to three but that was as close as FDU would get the rest of the way. Flood scored the game's next six points, two foul shots and two field goals to put Manhattan up nine. After an FDU bucket, Nwafili scored on a lay-up to give Manhattan an eleven point lead, their biggest of the game.
In the second half, Manhattan shot 44 percent from the field while outscoring FDU 42-26. Manhattan also forced the Knights into 23 turnovers.
Altamirano scored a game high 22 points, while Manhattan shot 40 percent from the field. The Lady Jaspers also took advantage of their trips to the foul line knocking down 16 of 19. Cottrell was a perfect 10 for 10.
Next up for Manhattan is the St. Bonaventure Shootout in Elmira, N.Y. The Lady Jaspers play their first game at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday against the University at Buffalo. On Sunday, Manhattan will take on either the hosts St. Bonaventure or Columbia University.
