Tatum, Grimme Lift Jaspers Over Canisius

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Riverdale, NY - Seniors Amani Tatum (Cambria Heights, NY / James Madison) and Kayla Grimme (Altoona Pa / Altoona Area) combined for 28 second-half points to lift the Jaspers over Canisius in a close road win at Koessler Athletic Center on January 11. The duo finished the game with 17 points apiece, including five three's for Tatum, who scored all of her points in the second half.

The Jaspers dominated the first quarter, jumping out to a 10-2 lead in the first five minutes and finishing the period up 17-11. But the Golden Griffs held the Jaspers to just seven in the second quarter on 23 percent shooting. At the half, Manhattan led by just six. 

Canisius freshman guard/forward Tiana Pugh turned it on in the second half, scoring her first points of the game on a three that brought the Griffs within two of the Jaspers, then grabbing a rebound for a put-back that tied the game at 27 with 6:58 left to play in the third. She would finish with 15 in the game. But the added pressure from the Griffs proved motivating for Tatum, as she hit her first three at the 6:36 mark, followed by another just 41 seconds later. Manhattan ended the quarter up four. 

The Jaspers started the final period with a 6-0 run, grabbing their highest lead of the game at 10 just a minute into the quarter. But the Griffs put together an 13-0 run over the next 3.5 minutes, with Pugh contributing five of those points. 

Down 47-44 with just 5:13 left to play, the Jaspers staged a comeback. Freshman Courtney Warley (West Chester, PA / Bishop Shanahan) hit two free throws to get Manhattan within one, and Grimme followed up with a three to snatch the lead back for the Jaspers. The shot gave Grimme more than 1,200 points for her career, making her just one of five Manhattan women's basketball players to earn 1,200 points and 800 rebounds. 

A jumper by Pugh tied the game at 49 with 3:50 left to play. A layup by junior Sara Hinriksdottir at the 2:57 mark gave the Griffs the lead one more time,  but they wouldn't hold it for long as Tatum hit another three to secure the higher ground for Manhattan. An 8-2 run by the Jaspers down the stretch put Manhattan up by five with 18 seconds left in the game, a trench that Canisius was unable to dig out of before the buzzer sounded. 

Tatum added a game-high seven rebounds for the Jaspers, as well as three assists and two steals. Grimme pulled down six rebounds, while adding four assists and two blocks. 

Up Next:
The Jaspers finish up their western New York road swing at Niagara on Saturday, January 13 at 3 p.m.