RIVERDALE, N.Y. - One of two winning streaks was going to end on Saturday afternoon, as the Manhattan College women's basketball team brought a four-game streak into its matchup with first-place Marist, which entered the contest the winners of 11 straight. Unfortunately, it was the Lady Jaspers (12-6, 4-3 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) who saw their streak snapped, as the five-time defending MAAC champion Red Foxes (16-2, 7-0 MAAC) jumped out to an early 10-3 lead and never looked back en route to a 75-52 victory on Alumni Day at Draddy Gymnasium.
Manhattan scored the first points of the game when Abby Wentworth (Portland, Maine) sank a trey on the opening possession, but Marist quickly countered with a 10-0 run. After a three-pointer by Monica Roeder (Marlton, N.J.) made it 10-6, the Red Foxes scored 12 of the next 14 points to extend their lead to 22-8 at the 7:12 mark. Marist led by as many as 19 points in the first half and held a 38-21 advantage at intermission. The Red Foxes shot 53.8 percent (14-of-26) from the field, including a scorching 70 percent (7-of-10) from three-point range, while Manhattan shot just 27.6 percent (8-of-29) in the first half.
The Red Foxes scored the first nine points of the second half to extend their lead to 26, 47-21, before the Lady Jaspers rallied for the next eight, getting back within 47-29 on a three-pointer by Alyssa Herrington (Cambridge, N.Y.) with 15:05 remaining. However, the Lady Jaspers would get no closer the rest of the way. Marist responded with an 8-0 rally of its own to bring the lead back to 26 and eventually extended their advantage to a game-high 31 points when a three-pointer by Emma O/Connor made the score 72-41 with 4:20 left. The Lady Jaspers ended the game on a 9-3 rally to trim their final deficit to 23 points, 75-52.
Wentworth, the MAAC's leading scorer, finished with a game-high 20 points and four assists to lead the Lady Jaspers. She also didn't commit a turnover in 39 minutes of action. Roeder added 16 points, including four three-pointers, off the bench, while Lindsey Loutsenhizer (North Huntingdon, Pa.) had three assists and two blocks. Nadia Peters (Bronx, N.Y.) grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for Manhattan. Overall, Manhattan shot 33.3 percent (18-of-54) from the floor, 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from downtown, and 87.5 percent (7-of-8) at the charity stripe.
"Monica played well, and of course Abby's been so consistent every single game," Head Coach John Olenowski said. "But overall we just couldn't hit shots today."
Brandy Gang led the Red Foxes with 19 points, 17 of which came in the first half. Corielle Yarde added 17 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, while MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Erica Allenspach notched 14 points, nine boards, two assists and two blocks. Elise Caron dished out nine assists and collected three steals, while Kristine Best handed out three assists for the Red Foxes. Marist shot 48.3 percent (29-of-60) from the field and outrebounded Manhattan 41-31. The Red Foxes shot 50 percent (11-of-22) from beyond the arc and 66.7 percent (6-of-9) at the line.
The Lady Jaspers have just one day off to prepare for their next contest, a 7 p.m. matchup with Rider (2-16, 2-5 MAAC) on Monday. It will be "Hoops for Cancer Night" at Draddy Gymnasium, and all fans are encouraged to make a donation towards the American Cancer Society. Manhattan defeated the Broncs 71-43 in Lawrenceville on Jan. 13, but hasn't swept the season series against Rider since 2007-08.
NOTES: Marist has won 15 of the last 16 meetings between the schools, but Manhattan holds a 22-18 edge in the all-time series...Wentworth is averaging 21.0 points over the last four games...Peters recorded her 100th career block in the game...Her 10-rebound performance was the first by a Manhattan player since she had 13 in the win over Columbia on Nov. 23...The Lady Jaspers were limited to a season-low three steals, as Marist, which commits the fewest turnovers in the nation, turned the ball over just seven times...There was a special postgame reception for all former Lady Jaspers in attendance.
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