Elmira, N.Y. - In the consolation game of the St. Bonaventure Shootout, Manhattan used a pair of impressive second half runs to distance themselves from Columbia and wind up with a 65-51 victory, taking third place. Caitlin Flood, with 16 points and 10 rebounds, led a balanced attack for the Lady Jaspers, who improve to 2-2 on the season. Columbia drops to 1-4.
Manhattan led 32-29 at halftime, but started out the second half with a 14-3 run over the first seven minutes to take 46-32 lead. Amanda LoCascio nailed a three pointer to start the run, while Jenna Franciosa, Joann Nwafili, and Kelly Regan all scored during the run.
Columbia though cut into Manhattan's lead with a big run of their own, a 9-1 spurt that trimmed the Lady Jaspers' lead to 47-41, topped off by a Tracey Cole bucket.
With the lead down to six, Nwafili went to work, converting a traditional three-point play to push the lead to nine. Another basket by Nwafili, followed by a Franciosa field goal pushed Manhattan's lead back to 13 at 54-41. That would be all the cushion the Lady Jaspers would need to hang on for the win.
Sophomore center Kelly Regan was Manhattan's second leading scorer with 15 points, while Gabrielle Cottrell had 10, her second double-digit performance of the tournament. Nwafili led the Lady J's in assists with six. Flood's first double-double of the season earned her a spot on the All-Tournament team.
While the Lady Jaspers struggled from the field in Saturday's loss to Buffalo, they were much more consistent today, shooting 43 percent overall, 46 percent in the second half.
Manhattan returns to action next Friday at Draddy Gym, when they take on the University of Hartford, tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
