Box Score
Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan College women's basketball team ran into a hot Holy Cross offense on Sunday afternoon. The Crusaders (5-0), who entered the game ranked second nationally in assists, had 26 helpers on 29 made field goals while shooting 47.5 percent (29-of-61) from the field and 50 percent (10-of-20) from long range in a 74-58 triumph over the Jaspers (1-5) at Draddy Gymnasium.
Holy Cross jumped in front quickly, going on a 16-4 run after an Ashley Stec (Cazenovia, N.Y.) three-pointer to open up a 25-9 lead midway through the first half. The Jaspers responded with a 10-4 rally, pulling within 10 on a pair of Stec free throws that made it 29-19 at the 5:09 mark. The margin would hover around 10 points for the remainder of the period, and Holy Cross took a 39-27 advantage into the locker room.
The teams traded three-pointers to begin the second half, but the Crusaders then went on a 15-2 rally in a span of little more than four minutes to increase their cushion to 25 points, 57-32, with 14:10 left. After the difference reached a game-high 27 points at 68-41 with 6:54 to go, Manhattan ended the contest by scoring 17 of the final 23 points. Back-to-back treys by Nicole Isaacs (Fair Haven, N.J.) and Katie Reese (Boonton Township, N.J.) trimmed the deficit to 18 points, then Stec capped the scoring with a jumper that made it 74-68 in favor of Holy Cross.
It was the Crusaders' fifth straight win to start the season, while the Jaspers lost for the fifth time in a row.
Kayla Grimme (Altoona, Pa.) registered her second consecutive double-double, notching team-highs with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Isaacs contributed 11 points, while Stec posted nine points, four assists and three steals. Monica Roeder (Marlton, N.J.) added six points, five rebounds and four assists for the Jaspers, who shot 38.9 percent (21-of-54) from the field as a team. Manhattan shot 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from downtown and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) at the free throw line.
Raquel Scott had a double-double for Holy Cross, finishing with 15 points and 13 rebounds. She also handed out five assists. Alex Smith tallied 13 points and eight assists, while Brisje Malone posted 11 points and seven boards to go along with eight assists and five steals. Lisa Mifsud also recorded 11 points, and Emily Parker notched eight points, five rebounds and four blocks. The Crusaders shot 54.5 percent (6-of-11) at the charity stripe.
After playing its last three games at Draddy Gymnasium, Manhattan hits the road for its next two. The Jaspers visit Oakland (1-6) at 7 p.m. on Friday. Last season in Riverdale, Manhattan posted a 47-43 victory over the Golden Grizzlies.
NOTES: The Jaspers and Crusaders played at Draddy Gymnasium on Dec. 1 for the second straight year…Holy Cross has won two straight against Manhattan and leads the all-time series 12-8…Manhattan used its fourth different starting lineup of the season, with Isaacs reentering the starting five…The Jaspers had an even assist-turnover ratio for the third time this season…Grimme became the first Jasper to post back-to-back double-doubles since Shayna Ericksen (Long Valley, N.J.) did so against Saint Peter's and Rider on Jan. 3-6, 2013…Reese matched a career-high with six points in just 10 minutes off the bench.
