Riverdale, NY - After a hard-fought first half that left the Jaspers tied 36-36 going into halftime, Manhattan College (4-9, 1-1) was unable to pull out the upset against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) favorite Quinnipiac (8-5, 2-0) Sunday afternoon in Draddy Gymnasium. The Bobcats were able to outscore the Jaspers 44-28 in the final two quarters, leading Quinnipiac to the 80-64 victory.
Before tip-off, senior center Kayla Grimme (Altoona PA / Altoona Area) was honored for scoring her 1,000th career point earlier this season at Sacred Heart. Joined by Manhattan College Athletic Director Marianne Reilly, Head Coach Heather Vulin, and Grimme's mother, Kathy, Grimme was presented with a commemorative basketball marking the occasion.
Going into the match-up against Quinnipiac, Grimme ranked 13th on the Jaspers' all-time scoring list at 1,158 points. Her team-high 18 against the Bobcats bumped her up to 1,176 all-time, leaving her just three away from surpassing #12 Tiffany Schettig (1,178 points) who played 116 games for Manhattan from 1999-2003.
Grimme was joined in the scoring effort against Quinnipiac by senior guard Amani Tatum (Cambria Heights, NY / James Madison), who was coming off a career-high performance of 28 points against Saint Peter's on December 28. Tatum contributed 13 on Sunday, as well as six rebounds, five of which came on the defensive end.
Manhattan shot more than 50 percent in the first half, including 58.3 percent in the second quarter. But the momentum swung toward Quinnipiac in the third as the Jaspers went cold from the floor, shooting 31.6 percent and hitting just one of five threes. Manhattan's toughness kept the Jaspers in the game, as they staved off any Bobcat runs and went into the final period down 53-49.
Quinnipiac went on a 17-2 run to start the fourth, going up 70-53 with 4:31 left to play. The Bobcats gained five points off turnovers in the final 10 minutes, as well as six second-chance points, out-rebounding the Jaspers 7-2 in the fourth.
Manhattan tied the Bobcats in rebounding for the game (30-30), and outscored their opponent 13-11 on second-chance points overall. The team was also able to contain MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Aryn McClure, holding her to just four points. But her teammate, MAAC first-team selection Jen Fay, exploded for 32 points (a career-high) and 10 rebounds.
Up Next:
The Jaspers will play their first game of 2018 against Canisius on January 4 at 11 a.m. in Draddy. The game will be Manhattan's annual Kids' Day.