Late Run Lifts Manhattan To 63-53 Win Over Monmouth

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Riverdale, NY - Manhattan closed out the game on a 14-2 run en route to a convincing 63-53 win over Monmouth in MAAC action at Draddy Gymnasium.

Senior Amani Tatum (Cambria Heights, NY / James Madison) had 11 points and eight steals while sophomore Gabby Cajou (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland) paced three double-figure scorers with 13 points to go along with a career-high seven steals as the Jaspers improve to 8-12 and 5-4 in the league while the Hawks fall to 5-15 and 3-6 in the MAAC.

"I thought the difference tonight was we made steals when we needed to," said Head Coach Heather Vulin. "I think Amani finished with eight steals and Gabby finished with seven. Their ability to use their athleticism and their quickness, and Amani has really quick hands. I thought our defense was the difference maker, and it created more shot opportunities for us."

Fueled by the backcourt of Tatum and Cajou, Manhattan registered a season-high 18 steals while forcing 23 miscues that led to a 29-11 advantage in points off turnovers.
 

Trailing 21-20 at the half, the Jaspers exploded for 20 points over the first seven minutes of the second half in opening up a 40-30 lead with 3:00 to play in building a 46-38 lead after three quarters of action.

Freshman Sini Makela (Helsinki, Finland / Makelanrinne Sports High) then opened the fourth with a long triple off a Kayla Grimme (Altoona, PA / Altoona Area) kickout in pushing the lead to a game-high 11 at 49-38 when the visitors made their move. Monmouth ripped off 13-straight points in grabbing a 51-49 advantage with 5:29 to play. Manhattan was then stopped on successive possessions and in desperate need of a spark when Tatum shifted the momentum with a huge steal that lead to an old-fashioned three-point play for freshman Courtney Warley (West Chester, PA / Bishop Shanahan). Tatum would follow with a pair of huge three pointers in extending the Jasper lead out to 58-53 with 2:17 remaining. 

Tatum would go on to close out the game with a late jumper and her eighth steal of the game with 18 seconds remaining in cementing the aforementioned 63-53 victory.

With the score tied at 7-7 just over two minutes to play into the first quarter, Manhattan ripped off seven-straight points in taking its largest lead of the half at 14-7. Warley got things started when a putback layup before Cajou forced a turnover on the ensuing possession. Tatum followed with her 300th career assist in finding sophomore Julie Hoier (Aabyhoej, Denmark / Marselisborg Gymnasium) on the break while forcing a Monmouth timeout.

The stoppage did little to quell the Jasper momentum as Tatum got into the act with a steal before feeding Lizahya Morgan (East Hartford, CT / Capital Preparatory Magnet) for a three pointer in capping the spurt.

Monmouth would answer with seven-straight points of their own en route to taking a slim 21-20 lead into the break thanks to posting a 25-13 advantage on the glass in the opening stanza.

Kayla Shaw scored a game-high 20 points to pace the Hawks. Grimme ended with a double-double, her sixth of the season. Makela ended with a career-high nine points. 

Manhattan will next play at Rider on Thursday, February 1 with opening tip tabbed for 7:00 pm.