Riverdale, NY - The Manhattan Jaspers overcame an 18-2 Iona run in the fourth quarter to outlast the Gaels 67-63 at Draddy Gymnasium on Thursday, January 18. The Jaspers improve to 7-11 overall this season and 4-3 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Iona falls to 0-17 on the season, and 0-6 in the league.
Led by preseason all-MAAC first team pick Alexis Lewis, Iona kept the game close after two quarters, with the Jaspers leading 33-28 going into the locker room at the half. Manhattan outscored the Gaels by five in the third, extending the team's lead to 10 at the start of the final period.
In the first four minutes of the fourth, the Jaspers went on a 12-4 run, with seniors Taylor Williams (Windsor, CT / Capital Preparatory Magnet) and Kayla Grimme (Altoona, PA / Altoona Area) contributing six points apiece. With 6:02 left the play, Manhattan held an 18-point lead over the Gaels, the team's largest of the game.
But the second half of the quarter belonged to Iona. Four Gaels scored over the next six minutes, including junior Treyanna Clay who put in eight of her 14 total points during the run.
The Jaspers missed seven shots during this stretch, as well as two free throws by Amani Tatum (Cambria Heights, NY / James Madison) with 39 seconds left in the game. But they were the last foul shots the Jaspers would miss as the Gaels tried to regain possession.
Tatum sank two free throws 10 seconds later, putting the Jaspers up by four. With 20 seconds left to go, Grimme hit two more, extending the lead to six. Iona freshman Toyosi Abiola hit a layup at 13 seconds, but the Gaels sent Williams to the line next, and she also put in her two. Abiola was able to grab another layup as the time expired, but is was the Jaspers who took the game, 67-63.
Williams led Manhattan with a season-high 18 points on 6-10 shooting, including 4-8 from three. Sophomore Gabby Cajou (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland) added 16 points and three assists.
Grimme recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 15 rebounds, including 12 defensive boards. She also contributed three steals and three blocks, putting her just one short of 200 blocks for her career. Tatum earned nine assists in the game, just one off her career high of 10. She added five steals and eight points.
Up Next:
Manhattan travels to Siena on Friday, January 26 for their first game against the Saints this season. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.