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BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Manhattan College women's basketball team battled back from 16 points down to pull within five on Friday afternoon, but ultimately came up just short, dropping a 58-49 decision to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) rival Fairfield (15-5, 8-1 MAAC) at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard. It was the Jaspers' (9-11, 3-5 MAAC) third straight loss.
Fairfield jumped out quickly, scoring the first eight points of the game, before Manhattan rallied to make it 10-8. However, after the Jaspers got within two, the Stags went on a 17-5 run over a 10-minute span to open up a 14-point advantage, 27-13, with 2:36 left in the first half. Schyanne Halfkenny (Hyde Park, Mass.) hit a three to cut Manhattan's deficit to 11, but Katelyn Linney sank a three-pointer on the other end to put Fairfield in front 32-18 at intermission.
Halfkenny scored Manhattan's first nine points of the second half, and her trey at the 15:34 mark brought the Jaspers back within nine, 36-27. After a Fairfield layup, Toni-Ann Lawrence (Elmont, N.Y.) converted an old-fashioned three-point play, then a layup by Allison Skrec (Roselle, N.J.) made it a six-point game, 38-32, with 14:27 remaining.
However, Fairfield responded with a 12-2 run to push its cushion to a game-high 16 points, 50-34, with 5:45 to go. A Lindsey Loutsenhizer (North Huntingdon, Pa.) layup on the ensuing Jaspers possession ignited a 13-2 Manhattan run that brought the Jaspers within five, 52-47, with 1:30 remaining. Manhattan forced seven Fairfield turnovers during that four-minute span. The Jaspers would get no closer, though, as the Stags went 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the final 1:30 to secure a 58-49 win.
Loutsenhizer and Halfkenny tallied 14 points apiece to lead the Jaspers. Loutsenhizer also had seven rebounds and three steals, while Halfkenny added six boards. Lawrence contributed nine points off the bench for Manhattan. As a team, the Jaspers shot 35.3 percent (18-of-51) from the field, 40 percent (4-of-10) from three-point range, and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) at the free throw line.
Alexys Vasquez finished with a game-high 15 points to pace the Stags. Katie Cizynski recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Linney notched 11 points. Taryn Johnson contributed 10 points and six boards to go along with two blocks. Desiree Pina handed out a game-high seven assists. Fairfield shot 50 percent (19-of-38) from the field and outrebounded Manhattan 31-23. The Stags shot 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from long range and 91.7 percent (11-of-12) at the charity stripe.
The Jaspers play back-to-back road games for the first time since Dec. 3-9 when they visit Saint Peter's (2-17, 2-5 MAAC) at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Manhattan swept Saint Peter's last season and has won four straight against the Peahens.
NOTES: The game was broadcast live as the "National MAAC Game of the Week" on ESPN3, ESPN's online video portal...Manhattan has faced Fairfield more than any other opponent...Friday's game was the 74th all-time meeting between the schools, and the Stags lead the series 38-36...Fairfield swept the season series for the first time since 2007-08...The Jaspers had just two assists in the game, a season-low...Manhattan also tied a season-low with 11 turnovers...Loutsenhizer scored her 1,250th career point in the contest...Manhattan utilized its eighth different starting lineup of the season on Friday...Nadia Peters (Bronx, N.Y.) came off the bench for the first time in Head Coach John Olenowski's tenure, snapping a string of 83 consecutive starts.
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