Riverdale, N.Y. (January 5, 2006)--After holding sixth-ranked Maryland to its lowest first half shooting percentage (25 percent) of the season on Monday night in College Park, Manhattan Women's Basketball brought first-half defensive intensity once again on Thursday night as they battled conference opponent Rider in Draddy Gym. The Lady Jaspers did not commit a personal foul the entire half and forced 16 Rider turnovers in the opening period en route to a 59-34 MAAC win. With the victory Manhattan improves to 2-1 in MAAC play, while Rider drops to 0-3.
Rider jumped out to an early 12-11 lead, but Manhattan sophomore guard Aubrie Dellinger knocked down a jump shot off of a pass from freshman Annie McIntyre to put the Lady Jaspers ahead, 13-12, with 11:55 remaining in the first half, and the Lady J's would not look back. During the remainder of the half, Manhattan outscored Rider by a 21-2 margin to take a 34-14 lead into the break.
As usual, Manhattan enjoyed a balanced scoring attack as seven players netted at least six points with only two scoring in double figures. Freshman forward Kymesha Alston, who scored 13 points in Monday night's defeat at Maryland, led the Lady Jaspers in scoring for the second straight game as she scored 12 points on 5-8 shooting. Alston also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and swatted a new career-best five shots.
Nwafili was the other Lady Jasper to score in double digits with 10 points and three assists. Dellinger, who helped Manhattan build the first-half cushion, finished with nine points and a new season-high six rebounds.
The second half saw more of the same for the two teams, as Rider was unable to get any closer than 17 points during the frame. Freshman forward Kelly Regan's layup from the right block with under four minutes to play gave Manhattan its biggest lead of the night at 28.
Manhattan continues MAAC play on Saturday, January 7 in Baltimore, Md. when they face Loyola College in Reitz Arena.