New Rochelle, N.Y. (March 1, 2008) ? The Women's Basketball team closed out their regular season with a win at local rival Iona College in the Hynes Center, 73-66. Senior Caitlin Flood led all scorers with 19 points as Manhattan came back from eight points behind to pull out the win.
Coming out in the first half, Manhattan was the first to strike scoring on a Caitlin Flood lay-up less than ten seconds in the game. But Iona opened up a 6-2 lead early off two three pointers and looked to put the Lady J's on their heels. But that is when the ladies strived as they put together a 9-0 run in under two minutes to regain the lead, 11-6 with 16:24 left in the half. The Lady Jaspers defense was showing its strengths as they held the Gaels scoreless for just over five minutes, in which they came back to tie the game at 20. The half was played pretty even between the two teams as they kept it close. In the closing seconds of the half, Flood hit a bucket which brought Manhattan to within two points. The Lady J's got some momentum from that basket, but went into the locker room at half time trailing, 31-29.
Flood led her team with eight points at the half as seven different players scored for Manhattan. Freshman Abby Wentworth had six as they Lady J's were going to have to come out strong in the second half.
On the first possession of the second half, Manhattan held Iona to a shot clock violation and looked ready to play. As the half went on, Iona kept a safe distance from the Lady Jaspers but Gabrielle Cottrell's three pointer with 12 minutes remaining pulled them to within four, 48-44. Soon after, Manhattan would take the lead for the first time in the second half after a Joann Nwafili lay-up. With Just over eight minutes left in the game, Flood converted the bucket, drew the foul and gave the Lady Jaspers a three point lead, 56-53.
Manhattan would increase to their lead by as much as 10 and looked strong towards the end of the half. Iona would pull to within one after a lay-up by Iona's Thazina Cook with 1:20 left made the score 65-64 in favor of Manhattan. But Joann Nwafili hit a clutch three pointer with the shot clock running down to put the Lady J's ahead by four, in the final minute of play. Steady free throw shooting at the end solidified Manhattan's win in their last game of the regular season.
Flood finished with a game high 19 points as she also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out six assists on the day. Cottrell had 15 points and set the Manhattan College single season record as she was 3-5 from behind the arc. Abby Wentworth and Kelly Regan were the other two Lady Jaspers players in double figures scoring 10 and 13 points, respectively.
Manhattan finishes its season 15-14 overall and 10-8 in conference play. They will look to take their momentum into the MAAC Tournament which will take place at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. starting March 6.
