Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. – On Saturday afternoon, the Manhattan College women's basketball team returned home for the first time in two weeks. Despite Shayna Ericksen's (Long Valley, N.J.) seventh double-double of the season, the Jaspers (2-18, 1-10 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) dropped a 53-46 decision to Niagara (9-12, 5-7 MAAC) at Draddy Gymnasium.
The contest was tight early on, as Niagara took a 9-5 lead before the Jaspers rallied to tie it at 9-9 midway through the first half. After the teams traded baskets to make it 11-11, the Purple Eagles went on a 13-2 run to open up a 24-13 cushion with 3:28 left in the opening stanza. However, Taylor Williams (Windsor, Conn.) hit a three-pointer to start a 10-2 Manhattan run that brought the Jaspers within three, 26-23, at the break.
A Jacqui Thompson (Southampton, Pa.) layup trimmed the deficit to one early in the second half, but Niagara responded with six straight points to push the margin back to seven at 32-25. Manhattan again rallied back, going on an 8-2 run over the next seven minutes to make it a one-point game once more, 34-33, with 9:00 remaining.
After Kayla Grimme's (Altoona, Pa.) layup made it 37-35 Niagara at the 5:32 mark, the Purple Eagles went on a 10-2 rally to regain a 10-point edge, 47-37, with 2:43 left. The Jaspers got a three-pointer from Alex Cohen (Nashua, N.H.) and a pair of free throws from Thompson to pull within five, but Niagara made enough free throws down the stretch to secure a 53-46 triumph.
Ericksen finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double since Jan. 16. Williams contributed 12 points on four treys, and she added five boards. Blake Underhill (Edgewater, N.J.) handed out four assists, while Thompson tallied three assists for the Jaspers. As a team, Manhattan shot 28.1 percent (16-of-57) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from long range, and 81.8 percent (9-of-11) at the charity stripe.
Meghan McGuinness had 17 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Purple Eagles. Victoria Rampado just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Taylor McKay posted 10 points and seven boards. Kelly Van Leeuwen dished out five assists and Donisha Watson recorded three blocks. Niagara shot 40.9 percent (18-of-44) from the floor and outrebounded Manhattan 44-30. The Purple Eagles went 4-for-12 (33.3 percent) from three-point land and 13-for-19 (68.4 percent) at the free throw line.
Manhattan plays three of its next four games on the road, starting with a 10 a.m. matchup at Iona (11-9, 8-3 MAAC) on Thursday. The Gaels notched a 79-62 triumph when the squads met in Riverdale on Jan. 9 and have won five straight against the Jaspers.
NOTES: Niagara swept the season series with Manhattan for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign…The Purple Eagles have won six of the last eight meetings between the squad and now lead the all-time series 27-26…Ericksen had six career double-doubles entering this season…Williams reached double-figures in scoring for the fourth straight game, and her four three-pointers matched a career-high…The Jaspers set season-highs with 26 caused turnovers and 12 steals…Niagara's 44 field goal attempts were also a season-low for a Manhattan opponent…The Jaspers' previous home contest against Quinnipiac, originally scheduled for Monday, Jan. 26, was postponed due to inclement weather and will be made up on Feb. 24…After playing a school-record eight straight contests at Draddy Gymnasium from Dec. 17-Jan. 16, Manhattan doesn't play consecutive home games again for the rest of the season.