Box Score
Fairfield, CT - After falling behind by 13 in the first quarter against Fairfield on Sunday, February 4, Manhattan women's basketball staged a comeback that gave the Jaspers the lead in the final minutes of the game. But it wasn't enough to secure the win, and Manhattan (8-14, 5-6 MAAC) fell to the Stags (9-13, 6-5 MAAC) 55-52 on the road at Alumni Hall.
Sophomore
Gabby Cajou (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland), led the Jaspers in scoring with 15, her 11th double-figure scoring game of the season. Cajou also contributed six assists, while senior
Amani Tatum (Cambria Heights, NY / James Madison) added 14 points, six boards, and five assists.
The Jaspers were plagued by Fairfield's sharpshooting early in the game: the Stags shot more than 57 percent in the first quarter, helping them to a double-figure advantage at the end of the first 10 minutes of play. In the second period, Manhattan fought its way back, outscoring the Stags 16-11 and cutting the lead to just five going into halftime.
At the end of the third, the Jaspers found themselves tied with Fairfield at 42 apiece. A jumper by freshman
Courtney Warley (West Chester, PA / Bishop Shanahan) made it 44-42 with 9:37 left to play, and gave Manhattan its first lead of the game. After Fairfield tied it up again at the 9:14 mark, the teams traded baskets. Manhattan took its last lead of the game at the 2:30 mark, on a three by Tatum that put the Jaspers back up by one.
Fairfield scored the next four points, going up by three with just under one minute to go. A steal and fast-break layup by Cajou then put the Jaspers within one with 23 seconds left to play. Manhattan implemented a fouling strategy to regain possession, putting Fairfield's Macey Hollenshead on the line, where she made 1-2. The Jaspers regained possession down 53-51 with 20 seconds left and no shot clock.
On the other end, Fairfield's Casey Foley fouled Tatum while shooting, putting the senior captain to the line for two free throws. Tatum converted 1-2, bringing the Jaspers back within one. Manhattan fouled again, and this time Hollenshead hit both.
With 12 seconds left to go, the Jaspers were down three with the ball. Tatum had a good look from three, but was unable to sink it. Fairfield then tied up the subsequent offensive board by
Kayla Grimme (Altoona, PA / Altoona Area), with the possession arrow turned in the Stags favor. When time expired, Fairfield walked away with the 55-52 win.
Grimme ended the game with 12 points and seven rebounds. Her first rebound of the game gave her 861 for her career, passing Manhattan Athletic Director
Marianne Reilly for third on the all-time rebounding list.
Up Next:
The Jaspers see Niagara for the second time this season on Thursday, February 8 at 7 p.m. in Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan lost the last meeting between the two teams by just one point on January 13 at Niagara.
