Box Score
Box Score
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – In its final road game of the season, the Manhattan College women's basketball team (9-19, 8-11 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) gutted out a 50-41 victory over Saint Peter's (3-25, 2-17 MAAC) at the Yanitelli Center on Wednesday night.
“I'm very pleased with the way that we're playing,” Head Coach John Olenowski said. “And I'd say that we're definitely playing our best basketball right now.”
The sides traded baskets early on, as the Peacocks held an 8-6 lead before the Jaspers rallied for six straight points to go up 12-8. Saint Peter's went back in front, 15-14, on a three-pointer by Aziza May at the 9:32 mark, but Monica Roeder (Marlton, N.J.) hit a jumper on the other end to give the lead back to Manhattan. After Khadijah Young drained a three to knot the score at 20-20, the Jaspers countered with an 8-1 spurt to open up a 28-21 advantage, and Manhattan led 28-22 at halftime.
It was still a five-point game, 32-27, when the jaspers went on a 9-0 run, getting a pair of three-pointers from Roeder and a long trey by Allison Skrec (Roselle, N.J.) that just beat the shot clock, to increase their lead to 14 points, 41-27, with 12:51 remaining. However, the Peacocks chipped away, pulling within six at 45-39 on Kaydine Bent's layup with 3:16 left.
Manhattan still led by six, 47-41, when Shayna Ericksen (Long Valley, N.J.) was fouled on a layup with 31 seconds remaining. She converted the free throw to make it 50-41, which would prove to be the final, as the Jaspers snapped their two-game losing streak.
“I thought our defense was outstanding,” Olenowski said. “We got efficient offense, just enough points, but really, really sound defense. This late in the year, on the road, that's what's going to get it done.”
All 50 of Manhattan's points came from the same four players. Ashley Stec (Cazenovia, N.Y.) had a game-high 16 points, while Skrec just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine assists. Roeder, meanwhile, tallied 13 points. That trio accounted for the Jaspers' first 43 points of the game before Ericksen scored the final seven points. Ericksen also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Manhattan shot 46.3 percent (19-of-41) from the field, 36.4 percent (4-of-11) from long range, and 88.9 percent (8-of-9) at the charity stripe.
“One of the things we talked about at halftime was that we only had three players who had scored and we had to get other people on the board,” Olenowski said. “As it turned out, Shayna, down the stretch, had some big baskets. She really stepped up when we needed it.”
Bent led Saint Peter's with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Neechelle Ingram and Kylie Garrett added six points apiece, while Bridget Whitfield handed out three assists. The Peacocks shot 36.6 percent (15-of-41) from the field and outrebounded the Jaspers 26-24. Saint Peter's went 4-for-11 (36.4 percent) from downtown and 7-for-10 (70 percent) at the free throw line.
With the win, Manhattan locked up at least the No. 8 seed in next weekend's MAAC Tournament. If Niagara (vs. Rider) and Canisius (vs. Fairfield) both lose on Friday night, the Jaspers will be guaranteed the No. 6 seed. Manhattan can also move up to No. 5 with a win over Quinnipiac and two victories by both Niagara and Canisius.
The Jaspers wrap up the regular season by hosting Quinnipiac (18-10, 13-5 MAAC) at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Roeder and Skrec will be honored prior to their final contest at Draddy Gymnasium.
NOTES: Manhattan swept the season series with Saint Peter's for the fourth time in five years…Saint Peter's leads the all-time series 51-24…It was Manhattan's new program-record 19th MAAC game of the season…The Jaspers finished with a 6-9 road record this season, including a 5-5 mark away from home in conference play…Skrec moved past Amy Gottschalk into sixth place on Manhattan's all-time assists list, and her 171 assists this season equals the second-highest single-season total in program history…The Jaspers held their opponent under 50 points for the fourth time this season…Manhattan won a road game when scoring exactly 50 points for the second time this season.
