Box Score
Click here to view the 2011-12 Manhattan Women's Basketball Yearbook
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - What a way to go out. Playing in their final game at Draddy Gymnasium, Manhattan College's four seniors combined for 53 points, 21 rebounds and 13 assists, as the Jaspers (15-13, 9-7 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) knocked off Saint Peter's, 72-59, on Sunday afternoon. On the day she became Manhattan's all-time leader in blocked shots, Nadia Peters (Bronx, N.Y.) notched a career-high 18 points and added eight rebounds.
Needing one block to tie the record, Peters got it out of the way early, stuffing a three-point attempt by Quiana Porter just 1:36 into the game. She added two more blocks in the second half to push her career total to 143 blocks, two more than Lori Toomey's previous record.
"It feels good," Peters said about the record. "I'm glad I could leave a mark at the school."
"That's the Nadia Peters we all know and love," Head Coach John Olenowski said. "She had a great game, and I'm so happy for her that she came through with flying colors on Senior Day."
Two other seniors-Lindsey Loutsenhizer (North Huntingdon, Pa.) and Schyanne Halfkenny (Hyde Park, Mass.) quickly put the Jaspers in front 4-0, and Manhattan opened up a 10-5 advantage six minutes in. After a three-pointer by the Peahens' Kristal Edwards, the Jaspers went on an 11-2 run to extend their advantage to 11 points, 21-10. Edwards responded with a jumper but Manhattan's fourth senior-Alyssa Herrington (Cambridge, N.Y.) followed with a three-pointer that made it 24-12 with 6:39 left in the first half.
The lead never dipped below 10 after that, and the Jaspers extended the margin to 19 points when a pair of Peters free throws made it 43-24 with five seconds left before halftime. However, Antonia Smith banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer to bring Saint Peter's within 16 points, 43-27, at intermission. Manhattan shot a stellar 56.7 percent (17-of-30) from the field in the first half.
Manhattan's hot shooting continued in the second half, as the Jaspers opened the period on a 10-3 run to extend their lead to 23 points, 53-30, with 15:41 remaining. Saint Peter's clawed away, getting within 13 at 59-46 with 6:44 left, but a Toni-Ann Lawrence (Elmont, N.Y.) layup ignited a 6-0 Manhattan rally that brought the Jaspers' advantage back to 19 points, 65-46. The lead was never threatened, though, and the seniors were removed one-by-one to standing ovations at the end of Manhattan's 72-59 victory.
The win, coupled with Loyola's loss at Iona, moved Manhattan into a tie for third place in the MAAC with two games remaining in the regular season. The Jaspers, who also guaranteed themselves a first-round bye in the MAAC Tournament, currently own the tiebreaker over the Greyhounds and control their own destiny entering the final weekend.
"We knew that if we kept playing well and kept winning, we'd be in great shape," Olenowski said. "I think that's coming to fruition now. We just need to take care of our business and we'll get a great seed."
Peters had four assists, three blocks and three steals to go along with her 18 points and eight boards. Halfkenny tallied a game-high 19 points and seven rebounds, while Loutsenhizer notched 11 points, five rebounds and two steals. Herrington finished with five points and tied a season-high with six assists. Lawrence added eight points, three rebounds and two assists, and Maggie Blair (Briarcliff, N.Y.) registered four assists and three steals in 19 minutes off the bench. As a unit, the Jaspers had 20 assists on 30 made field goals. Manhattan shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the field, 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from long range, and 80 percent (8-of-10) at the free throw line.
"We were so happy that everybody took care of the ball," Olenowski said. "That was a big concern. We only had 14 turnovers, and really did a great job of valuing the ball and getting great passes inside."
Edwards had a double-double for the Peahens. She finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Kaydine Bent contributed 10 points and six boards to go along with two blocks, while Porter added three blocks. Jynae Judson tallied nine points and dished out a team-high four assists. As a team, Saint Peter's shot 37.9 percent (22-of-58) from the field and outrebounded Manhattan 43-30, including a 24-14 edge on the offensive glass. The Peahens went 3-for-11 (27.3 percent) from three-point range and 12-for-17 (70.6 percent) at the charity stripe.
The Jaspers conclude the regular season with a pair of matchups in Buffalo next weekend. Manhattan visits Canisius (12-15, 6-10 MAAC) at 7 p.m. on Friday, then takes on Niagara (10-18, 7-9 MAAC) next Sunday at 2 p.m. If they win both contests, the Jaspers will clinch either the No. 3 or 4 seed in the MAAC Tournament.
NOTES: Manhattan beat Saint Peter's for the sixth consecutive time, its longest-ever winning streak in the series...The Peahens hold a 50-22 edge all-time...Halfkenny, Herrington, Loutsenhizer and Peters were honored during a pregame ceremony...All four seniors got the start for the third successive game...The previous school record of 141 career blocks was set by Lori Toomey from 1990-94...Peters' previous career-high was 17 points against Elon on Dec. 1, 2009...Herrington also had six assists against Niagara on Feb. 10...Manhattan forced 24 turnovers and outscored Saint Peter's 42-24 in the paint...The Jaspers led from start-to-finish for the third time in four games...Manhattan clinched its third straight season of going at least .500 in conference play, as well as its third straight season with at least 15 wins...The Jaspers have clinched a first-round bye in the MAAC Tournament for the third straight year.
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