Manhattan Earns Important 71-55 Win at Rider

Box Score 

TRENTON, N.J. ? Lindsey Loutsenhizer (North Huntingdon, Pa.) posted career-highs with 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Manhattan College women's basketball team (8-17, 5-9 MAAC) to an important 71-55 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Rider (8-17, 5-9 MAAC) on Friday evening at Sovereign Bank Arena.  Kelly Regan (Williamsville, N.Y.) also tallied a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards, while Alyssa Herrington (Cambridge, N.Y.) finished with 17 points in the win.

After Rider scored the first basket of the game, Manhattan quickly jumped out to a 10-4 advantage barely three minutes into the contest.  The Lady Jaspers ran their lead to 11 points when Loutsenhizer converted a traditional three-point play to make it 18-7 with 11:14 left in the first half.  However, the Broncs responded with a 15-4 run and tied the score at 22-22 on a Shaunice Parker jumper at the 3:54 mark.  After the sides traded baskets, Annie McIntyre (Portland, Ore.) sank a three-pointer to give the Lady Jaspers a 27-24 lead, and Manhattan held a 31-26 advantage at the break.

The Broncs scored the first nine points of the second half to take a 35-31 lead.  Loutsenhizer hit a layup to cut Rider's lead to two, then Herrington drained a trey to put the Lady Jaspers back in front, 36-35.  Herrington sank another three to increase Manhattan's lead to 44-39 before Parker hit a jumper on the other end to pull the Broncs within three points with 11:01 remaining.

Following Parker's jumper, the Lady Jaspers went on a 13-2 run over the next 4:21 to open up a 57-43 advantage.  Rider scored the next 10 points to get back within four with 4:34 remaining, prompting a Manhattan timeout.  Loutsenhizer hit a trey out of the timeout to ignite a 10-0 Manhattan rally that put the game away.  Kerri White (Elmont, N.Y.) scored the Lady Jaspers' last six points in the 71-55 victory.

Loutsenhizer's 19 points and 13 rebounds were both game-highs.  She also tied her career-highs with three assists and two steals.  Regan's double-double was her sixth of the season, and she added three assists.  Herrington went 5-for-7 from three-point range in the game.  McIntyre had a career-high four steals to go along with eight points, four rebounds and three assists.  Michelle Pacheco (Bronx, N.Y.) and White each tallied six points off the bench.  The Lady Jaspers shot 41.9 percent (26-of-62) from the field, including 50 percent (9-of-18) from downtown, and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) at the free throw line.

Parker recorded a double-double for the Broncs with 12 points and 11 rebounds.  Tammy Meyers finished with 11 points and nine boards and added a game-high four assists.  Sarah Homan tallied eight points, eight rebounds and four blocks for Rider.  The Broncs shot 27.4 percent (17-of-62) as a team and outrebounded the Lady Jaspers 46-41.  Rider shot 11.1 percent (2-of-18) from three-point range and 73.1 percent (19-of-26) at the charity stripe.

The Lady Jaspers and Broncs are now tied for seventh place in the MAAC.  The top six teams in the final standings receive a bye into the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament.  Manhattan and Rider trail Iona and Saint Peter's, who are tied for fifth, by two games with four remaining, and the Lady Jaspers visit the Peahens on Feb. 23.

But first, Manhattan has another important road game at Loyola (9-15, 4-10 MAAC) on Sunday afternoon.  The Lady Jaspers lead the Greyhounds by one game in the standings, but Loyola posted a 78-65 victory when the teams met at Draddy Gymnasium on Dec. 5.  Sunday's contest is slated for 12 p.m. at Reitz Arena.