New Rochelle, N.Y. (January 27, 2006)-Although Iona never held a lead of more than four points on the night, the Gaels managed to squeak by Manhattan Women's Basketball, 71-68, at the Hynes Athletic Center on Friday. The loss drops the Lady Jaspers to 7-11 overall and 4-5 in MAAC play, while Iona evens its overall record at 9-9 and improves its conference record to 6-3.
After Manhattan held a lead for most of the way, Iona managed to take its biggest advantage of the contest with 30 seconds remaining in the game as forward Tiara Headen knocked down a left-side jumper in transition to put the Gaels ahead, 69-65. Lady Jasper senior guard Lupe Godinez answered right back by draining her fourth three-pointer of the game from just beyond the right arc to cut the Iona lead to one with 16 seconds left on the clock. After two Iona free throws put the Gaels ahead by three, Manhattan had a last-second chance to send the game into overtime, but sophomore guard Gabrielle Cottrell's three-point heave fell short.
The Lady Jaspers came out of the starting gate at full speed as they scored on their first seven possessions. Powered by two Godinez threes and three consecutive hoops by freshman forward Kelly Regan, two of which were assisted by Godinez, Manhattan jumped out to a 17-8 lead less than four minutes into the contest.
The nine-point advantage, which was Manhattan's largest of the game, would not grow as Iona forward Martina Weber single-handedly kept the Gaels in the game during the early going. Weber, who finished with a game-high 26, netted 19 first-half points, and converted a traditional three-point play to trim the Lady Jasper advantage down to one with under two minutes remaining in the first half. On Manhattan's ensuing possession, however, Godinez drilled a three from the left corner to help the Lady J's to a 36-33 lead at the break.
Three Lady Jaspers scored in double-figures on the night with Godinez matching her career-high with a team-high 16. Regan and Cottrell added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Manhattan continues MAAC play at Draddy Gym on Sunday, January 29, as the Lady Jaspers host defending MAAC Regular Season Champion Marist College at 2:00 p.m.