Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. ? The Manhattan College women's basketball team entered Friday night's game desperately in search of a win. The Lady Jaspers (7-16, 4-8 MAAC) got exactly what they needed against Niagara (1-22, 0-12 MAAC). Led by Kelly Regan's (Williamsville, N.Y.) fifth double-double of the season, four Lady Jaspers scored in double figures, as Manhattan snapped its five-game losing streak with a 77-58 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over the Purple Eagles at Draddy Gymnasium.
“We finally got one, but I hope that keeps us still hungry,” Head Coach Myndi Hill said. “We need February to be the month where we get stronger and pick up some wins before the (MAAC) Tournament. I was most pleased with how unselfish we played tonight.”
Both teams started off slowly from the field and Niagara led 8-7 after a Kristina Walton layup at the 12:55 mark. Manhattan responded with the next five points to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish. The lead reached seven points on Alyssa Herrington's (Cambridge, N.Y.) layup with 1:45 remaining before halftime.
After Liz Flooks hit two free throws to cut Manhattan's lead to five at 29-24 with 1:24 left in the half, the Lady Jaspers scored five points in two seconds to run their lead to 10 points. As Herrington hit a three from the left wing, Niagara's Erika Harris fouled Annie McIntyre (Portland, Ore.) under the basket. Since the foul was committed as the shot went up and the Purple Eagles were over the limit, McIntyre went to the line. She nailed both free throws to make it 34-24. Flooks went 1-for-2 at the line with two seconds left in the half to cut Manhattan's lead to nine points, 34-25, at intermission.
Harris hit a three-pointer to make it 40-31 with 16:01 to go, but the Lady Jaspers answered with the next seven points to open up a 47-31 advantage. Niagara countered with seven points of its own to pull back within nine at 47-38. After a pair of Laura Rivera (Elmont, N.Y.) free throws and a Walton layup, Michelle Pacheco (Bronx, N.Y.) rattled off four straight points to bring the Lady Jaspers' lead back to double digits, where it would stay for the remainder of the contest. Kerri White's (Flushing, N.Y.) three-pointer with 12 seconds remaining gave the Lady Jaspers their largest lead of the night, 77-58, which was also the final score.
Regan finished with 14 points and a game-high 11 rebounds and is now just five points shy of becoming the 17th player in Manhattan history with 1,000 career points. She also tied a career-high with three blocks. Herrington and McIntyre each tallied 11 points, and McIntyre also contributed four assists. Lindsey Loutsenhizer (North Huntingdon, Pa.) had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists off the bench, while Rivera chipped in a career-high nine points and three assists. Pacheco registered nine points and distributed seven assists, as Manhattan had a staggering 23 assists on 26 successful field goals.
The Lady Jaspers shot 51 percent (26-of-51) for the game and outrebounded the Purple Eagles 36-27. Manhattan shot 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from three-point range and 89.5 percent (17-of-19) at the free throw line.
Flooks had a game-high 17 points and paced the Purple Eagles with five rebounds. She also handed out a team-high three assists. Rachele Folino added 12 points, while Meghan Waterman also grabbed five rebounds. Niagara shot 31.8 percent (14-of-44) from the field, 50 percent (4-of-8) from beyond the arc and 68.4 percent (26-of-38) at the charity stripe.
The Lady Jaspers are back in action on Monday, when they host Iona (13-11, 6-7 MAAC) at 6 p.m. in the opener of a Manhattan basketball doubleheader. Following the women's game, the Manhattan and Iona men will square off. Both games will be televised on MSG as a part of the MAAC-TV package. Monday is also National Girls and Women In Sport Day at Draddy Gymnasium. All girls and women will be admitted to the game for free and receive a free poster.
NOTES: After Niagara swept the season series in 2007-08, Manhattan swept the season series in 2008-09...This was the 40th all-time meeting between the schools...The all-time series is now tied 20-20...Regan tallied her second double-double against Niagara this season, and third career double-double against the Purple Eagles...Three of her six career double-doubles have come against Niagara...Rivera's previous career high was five points at Fairfield on Jan. 25...The Lady Jaspers utilized a different starting lineup for the third straight game and the 11th time this season, with McIntyre and Nadia Peters (Bronx, N.Y.) replacing Abby Wentworth (Portland, Maine) and Loutsenhizer in the starting five...Manhattan is 6-0 this season when shooting better than its opponent.