Box Score
Box Score
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Kayla Grimme (Altoona, PA) became the Manhattan College women's basketball team's all-time leader in blocks on Thursday night. Her record-setting performance came in a losing effort, however, as the Jaspers (6-14, 2-9 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) fell to Rider (14-6, 8-3 MAAC) by a 73-64 count at Alumni Gymnasium.
It was 0-0 for nearly five minutes before Rider finally scored the first basket of the game. Manhattan responded with eight straight points, though, to open up an 8-2 advantage with 2:21 left in the first quarter. Rider countered with a 5-0 run to pull within one, and the Jaspers led 10-9 at the end of the period.
Manhattan got three-pointers from Gabby Cajou (Stony Point, NY) and Amani Tatum (Cambria Heights, NY) on its first two possessions of the second quarter to extend the margin to five, 16-11. After Rider trimmed its deficit to one at 23-22, the Jaspers ended the half on a 6-2 rally to take a 29-24 cushion into the locker room.
However, Rider started the third quarter on a 15-4 run to go up 41-33. The Broncs still had an eight-point edge at 44-36 when a Grimme layup ignited a 6-0 spurt that brought the Jaspers within two, 44-42. Rider brought a 46-42 lead into the fourth quarter, then rattled off 16 straight points to begin the final period, extending its cushion to 62-42.
“This team (Rider) is really good in transition, and, unfortunately, they had a couple minutes here and there where they were able to put a significant run together,” Head Coach Heather Vulin said. “That's just the kind of offensive fire power they have.”
After a pair of Tatum free throws, Safie Tolusso sank a trey to give the Broncs their largest lead of the game, 65-44, with 3:35 remaining. The Jaspers battled back, though, as Mikki Guiton (Schwenksville, PA) scored five straight points, then Maeve Parahus (Congers, NY) converted a four-point play to pull her team within 12 at 65-53 with 2:01 left. Manhattan eventually cut the lead to seven at 69-62, but ultimately ran out of time, as the Broncs notched a nine-point victory, 73-64.
Grimme had her second straight double-double with 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. She also handed out three assists. Tatum, in her first game back after missing six contests with an ankle injury, finished with 14 points and three steals in 23 minutes of action. Nyasha Irizarry (Brooklyn, NY) recorded nine points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals, while Cajou tallied nine points, three assists. Guiton added seven points and four boards for the Jaspers, who shot 33.9 percent (21-of-62) from the field. Manhattan went 5-for-23 (21.7 percent) from three-point land and 17-for-20 (85 percent) at the charity stripe.
For Rider, Robin Perkins led the way with a game-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds. Julia Duggan tallied 14 points, seven boards and three assists, while Kamila Hoskova just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Tolusso added 11 points off the bench. Stella Johnson secured eight rebounds and Taylor Wentzel handed out six assists for the Broncs. Rider shot 42.9 percent (27-of-63) from the floor, 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from long range, and 70 percent (14-of-20) at the free throw line. The Broncs also outrebounded the Jaspers 42-38.
The Jaspers return home for the only time in a six-game stretch, when they take on Saint Peter's (3-16, 2-8 MAAC) in their annual “Kid's Day Out” contest. Nearly 1,000 students from local elementary schools are expected at the 11 a.m. matchup.
NOTES: Grimme tied the record in the second quarter, then broke the mark with 6:21 remaining in the contest…She now has 149 career blocks, one more than previous record-holder Nadia Peters (2007-12)…Her previous career-high was 14 rebounds at Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 14, 2015…Grimme's double-double was her fourth of the season and the 15th of her career…Cajou posted a pair of blocks on Thursday night after blocking just one shot in Manhattan's first 19 games…With Tatum back in the lineup, the Jaspers used a different starting five for the fifth straight game and the 15th time this season…Rider swept the season series for the first time since 2003-04 and has won three straight against Manhattan…The Jaspers lead the all-time series 29-15.
