RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan women's basketball team battled with Wagner for 45 minutes this evening in Draddy Gym but ultimately fell in OT, 63-60.
Today served as the season opener for both teams, with Manhattan dropping to 0-1 while Wagner goes to 1-0.
The first Jasper bucket of the 2022-2023 season belonged to
Emily LaPointe, who drilled a three off an assist from
Dee Dee Davis.
The entirety of regulation was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team being able to grow a sizable lead.
It all came ahead in the final minutes of regulations. With 6:03 left in the fourth quarter, the Jaspers trailed 49-43. LaPointe converted a layup to cut the lead to four. Following a defensive stop by the Jaspers, LaPointe hit another layup to cut the lead to two with just over five minutes remaining.
Following a foul on
Leyla Ozturk, the Seahawks hit one-of-two free throws, and a minute later, it was LaPointe again came through with a big-time bucket, this time a deep ball to tie the game at 50.
An Ozturk layup with just over two minutes gave Manhattan a two-point lead. The Seahawks went 2-2 from the line the following possession.
With 19 seconds left, coming out of a timeout, the Seahawks' Kem Nwabuku, off a quick play, tied the game at 54. On the final possession of regulation, Davis missed a jumper, but
Anne Bair grabbed the rebound, and her put-back rimmed out, sending the game to the extra period.
Overtime opened with a three-pointer by the Seahawks' Lina Loconeice. Wagner maintained the lead until 1:48 left when LaPointe sank a pair of free throws to tie the score at 60. With 16 seconds left, Wagner scored a fast break layup to make the score 62-60.
A missed layup by Davis led to a last-second foul to send Wagner to the line. Nwuabu sank the first but missed the second, which was rebounded by Davis, who immediately called a timeout. Out of the timeout, Davis missed her final shot attempt, sending Wagner home with the win.
Despite the setback, LaPointe finished with 18, while Davis pitched in 17. Ozturk made her Jasper debut with nine points, five rebounds, and five rejections.
Jade Blagrove secured 12 rebounds.
Manhattan returns to the court for its first away contest this Thursday with a trip to Stony Brook.
