Box Score
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. ? Abby Wentworth (Portland, Maine) registered a career-high 25 points and Kelly Regan, a native of the Buffalo area, recorded 18 points and 14 rebounds for her third double-double of the season, as the Manhattan College women's basketball team (6-11, 3-3 MAAC) notched an 84-73 victory over Niagara (1-16, 0-6 MAAC) in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action at the Gallagher Center on Friday night. With the win, the Lady Jaspers snapped a two-game losing streak.
After the sides traded baskets early, the Lady Jaspers broke open an 11-11 game with a 13-2 run to take a 25-13 lead at the 9:03 mark of the first half. Niagara responded with a 19-7 run to pull within two at 32-30, but Manhattan ran its lead back to eight points on back-to-back treys by Laura Rivera (Elmont, N.Y.) and Wentworth. The Lady Jaspers led 38-32 at intermission.
Manhattan increased its lead to nine when Annie McIntyre (Portland, Ore.) drained a three to open the second half, and the advantage reached double digits when Lindsey Loutsenhizer (North Huntingdon, Pa.) sank a three-pointer to make it 52-41 with 14:09 remaining. The Purple Eagles scored the next seven points to pull within four, but McIntyre responded with a three on the other end to put the Lady Jaspers up 55-48 at the 11:55 mark.
Niagara pulled within four points again at 58-54, but Manhattan again responded. The Lady Jaspers went on a 9-3 run to run the lead back to 10 points, 67-57, with 6:08 remaining. Manhattan's advantage hovered around 10 points the rest of the way. Niagara pulled within seven at 76-69 with 1:12 remaining, but Manhattan's last 11 points of the 84-73 victory came at the free throw line. The Lady Jaspers attempted a season-high 28 free throws and scored a season-high 84 points in the win.
“We did what we needed to do in order to win,” Head Coach Myndi Hill said. “Every time Niagara got close, we hit a big bucket to shut the door.”
Wentworth had five assists and three steals to go along with her 25 points. Regan went 9-for-13 from the field for 18 points, and her 14 rebounds were a game-high. McIntyre tallied 11 points and Alyssa Herrington (Cambridge, N.Y.) added 10 points off the bench. Michelle Pacheco (Bronx, N.Y.) chipped in eight points and tied a career-high with eight rebounds, as Manhattan had 20 assists on 28 successful field goals. The Lady Jaspers shot a season-high 56 percent (28-of-50) from the field, including 55.6 percent (10-of-18) from downtown, and 64.3 percent (18-of-28) at the charity stripe.
Jennifer McNamee had 18 points to lead four Purple Eagles in double figures. Liz Flooks and Erika Harris each tallied 14 points, and Meghan Waterman added 11 points off the bench. Harris also handed out a team-high six assists. Flooks grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and Rachele Folino finished with six boards, as Niagara outrebounded Manhattan 31-29. Niagara shot 48.2 percent (27-of-56) from the field, 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from three-point range, and 77.8 percent (14-of-18) at the free throw line.
The Lady Jaspers conclude their two-game Western New York swing on Sunday afternoon, when they visit Canisius (12-5, 4-2 MAAC) for a 2 p.m. matchup. The Griffs, who fell 52-46 to Fairfield on Friday night, knocked off Manhattan 67-59 when the teams met at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 9.
NOTES: Manhattan snapped a two-game losing streak against Niagara...The Purple Eagles lead the all-time series 20-19...Wentworth finished with a career-high in the scoring column for the third straight game...The Lady Jaspers utilized their seventh different starting lineup this season, with freshman Schyanne Halfkenny (Hyde Park, Mass.) making her first career start...Rivera's three-pointer marked her first career points...Pacheco also had eight assists against Canisius last Friday night...Regan had her second double-double in four career games at the Gallagher Center...Approximately 25 members of Regan's family were in attendance.