Box Score
2012-13 Manhattan Women's Basketball Yearbook
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - On Sunday afternoon, the Manhattan College women's basketball team had a chance to win consecutive games for the first time season and begin Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play 2-0 for the second year in a row. However, the Jaspers (4-9, 1-1 MAAC) dropped a defensive struggle, coming up on the short end of a 48-41 decision against Rider (6-7, 1-1 MAAC) at Draddy Gymnasium.
Rider quickly jumped out to a 4-0 lead, as Manhattan struggled to get going offensively. However, the Jaspers' defense kept it close. Manhattan had nine steals and forced 14 turnovers in the first half.
The Broncs led 11-4 at the 8:59 mark before a three-point play by Shayna Ericksen (Hackettstown, N.J.) made it a four-point game. After a Caitlin Bopp layup for Rider, Allison Skrec (Roselle, N.J.) drove for a layup and Toni-Ann Lawrence (Elmont, N.Y.) hit a free throw to pull the Jaspers within three, 13-10, with 5:55 remaining before halftime. Monica Roeder (Marlton, N.J.) then sank a trey to knot the score at 13-13 with 4:52 left in the first half. However, Rider ended the period on an 11-3 run and took a 24-16 advantage into the locker room.
Rider extended the margin to 10 points, 28-18, early in the second half, but Manhattan responded with an 8-4 rally, trimming its deficit to six at 32-26 on Ashley Stec's (Cazenovia, N.Y.) three-pointer with 12:17 to go. However, the Broncs countered with a 9-2 run of their own, extending their lead to a game-high 13 points at 41-28 with 7:07 left. With the Broncs in front 45-35, Katie Reese (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) scored four consecutive points to get the Jaspers back within six, but it would get no closer, and late free throws by MyNeshia McKenzie and Caitlin Bopp capped Rider's 48-41 victory.
"We played good team defense, and forcing turnovers was definitely a plus, but overall, we didn't play a good basketball game," Head Coach John Olenowski said.
Ericksen had her second straight double-double to pace the Jaspers. She finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds while also recording two blocks. Roeder tallied nine points, while Lawrence contributed eight rebounds and four steals. Skrec handed out six assists. Manhattan forced 21 Rider turnovers, but shot just 31.3 percent (15-of-48) from the field and 14.3 percent (2-of-14) from three-point land. The Jaspers shot 60 percent (9-of-15) at the free throw line.
McKenzie tallied a game-high 18 points and eight rebounds for the Broncs, while Bopp recorded a double-double with 16 points and 18 boards. Manon Pellet and Carleigh Brown each distributed three assists, and Brown added two blocks. Rider shot 32.6 percent (15-of-46) from the field and outrebounded Manhattan 40-31. The Broncs were held to 7.6 percent (1-of-15) shooting from long range and went 17-for-23 (73.9 percent) at the charity stripe.
The Jaspers are on the road for three of their next four games, including their next two. Manhattan visits Iona (7-6, 2-0 MAAC) at 12 p.m. on Thursday. The Jaspers and Gales split the season series in 2011-12, with each team winning on its home floor.
NOTES: The loss snapped Manhattan's four-game winning streak against Rider...The Jaspers lead the all-time series 27-9...Manhattan is 1-1 in the MAAC for the first time since 2009-10...The Jaspers featured a different starting lineup for the eighth straight game and the 10th time this season...Ericksen is the first Manhattan player to have consecutive double-doubles since Kelly Regan did so against Rider and Loyola on Feb. 13-15, 2009...Reese scored a career-high six points in eight minutes off the bench...This was the first of seven consecutive day games for Manhattan...Following the game, the Jaspers participated in an autograph session with a local youth girls' basketball team.
