Box Score
LAKE CHARLES, La. - Monica Roeder (Marlton, N.J.) had one of those games on Saturday afternoon. She established a new school-record with eight three-pointers and became the first Manhattan College women's basketball player in more than nine years to score 30 points, pouring in a career-high 35 to lead the Jaspers (1-2) to their first victory of the season, an 86-53 triumph over East Tennessee State (0-3) in the consolation round of the Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) at McNeese State University's Burton Coliseum. It was the first Preseason WNIT win in program history.
Roeder became the second player in Preseason WNIT history to drain eight treys in a game, joining Missouri State's Jackie Stiles, the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, who did it against Davidson on Nov. 13, 1998. She also tied the Preseason WNIT record for three-pointers in a tournament (12), which was previously accomplished by Kimberly Wilson of Arkansas in 1995 and North Carolina A&T's Ta'Wuana Cook in 2009.
"The team played really well today, both offensively and defensively," Head Coach John Olenowski said. "It was far and away our best offensive game of the year, and Monica was sensational for us. I was so proud of the energy that the girls showed today in winning our first Preseason WNIT game ever. I think we can build off this victory and take a giant step forward for our program."
The Jaspers never trailed in the game, getting a jumper from Toni-Ann Lawrence (Elmont, N.Y.) on the opening possession. Manhattan's lead reached nine points when a pair of Lindsey Loutsenhizer (North Huntingdon, Pa.) free throws made it 22-13 midway through the period before an 8-0 ETSU run brought the Lady Buccaneers back within one, 22-21. However, Roeder drained a trey on the next Manhattan possession to ignite a 13-4 run that pushed the Jaspers' advantage back to 10 points, 35-25, with 3:29 remaining in the period. The Jaspers led by six, 37-31, at the break.
After a Roeder three and a Loutsenhizer layup extended Manhattan's lead back to 11 early in the second half, ETSU went on an 11-5 spurt to again get within five, 47-42, with 13:29 to play. However, a Loutsenhizer jumper at the 12:54 mark started a 17-1 Manhattan rally over the next five minutes that increased the Jaspers' advantage to 23 points, 66-43. Roeder had 11 consecutive points during that span.
ETSU scored five straight points to briefly stop the onslaught, but Loutsenhizer and Roeder hit treys on Manhattan's next two possessions to push the lead back to 24 points, 72-48, with 6:13 to go. Those buckets started a 20-5 Jaspers run to close the game, as Manhattan pulled away down the stretch. A layup by Ondya Morgan (New Brunswick, N.J.) with 50 seconds left capped the scoring, and gave Manhattan its largest lead of the contest, a 33-point, 86-53 margin. It was the Jaspers' greatest margin of victory since a 71-32 victory over Niagara at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 8, 2011.
Roeder had six rebounds and three steals to go along with her 35 points. Loutsenhizer also had a solid offensive outing, finishing with 17 points and five assists. Schyanne Halfkenny (Hyde Park, Mass.) just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine boards, while Nadia Peters (Bronx, N.Y.) contributed nine points, seven rebounds, four steals, two assists and two blocks. Maggie Blair (Briarcliff, N.Y.) handed out a career-high eight assists, as Manhattan tallied 21 helpers as a team. Overall, the Jaspers shot 48.5 percent (33-of-68) from the field and 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from three-point land. Manhattan shot 90 percent (9-of-10) at the free throw line.
Brianna Bogard led ETSU with 17 points, while Maria Bond had 13 points and six assists off the bench. Tosha Austin also grabbed six boards, as the Lady Bucs outrebounded the Jaspers 40-36. Cara Dowling added five rebounds and a team-high four assists for ETSU. As a team, the Lady Bucs shot 34.5 percent (20-of-58) from the field, 23.8 percent (5-of-21) from downtown, and 53.3 percent (8-of-15) at the charity stripe.
The Jaspers are back in action on Wednesday, when they visit Army (3-1) at 5 p.m. Manhattan has won two straight against the Black Knights.
NOTES: The last Manhattan player to score 30 points was Rosalee Mason, who had 30 against Marist on Jan. 22, 2002...Roeder's previous career-high was 21 points at Wright State on March 20...The old school record for three-pointers in a game was seven by Wanda Camps (Jan. 28, 1995) and Brooke Renkens (Dec. 20, 1998 & Jan. 27, 1999)...It was the first all-time meeting between the Jaspers and Lady Bucs...Manhattan became the first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) team to win a game in the Preseason WNIT since Marist beat Bowling Green 70-65 in the 2009 event...The MAAC had lost five straight games in the Preseason WNIT prior to the Jaspers' victory...The Jaspers used their third different starting lineup of the season, with Roeder and Loutsenhizer returning to the starting five after coming off the bench against McNeese State.
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