Manhattan University Athletics

Riverdale, NY - After losing to Niagara by one point in the teams' first match-up of the year, the Manhattan women's basketball team had something to prove Thursday night, hosting the Purple Eagles at Draddy Gymnasium for their second showdown of the season. The result was a 55-percent shooting night for the Jaspers and a 18-point win over the Purple Eagles, 82-64. Manhattan improves to 9-14 on the season and 6-6 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Niagara falls to 9-15 overall and 6-7 in the league. 
Three players scored in double-figures for Manhattan, with five scoring eight points or more. Senior Kayla Grimme (Altoona, PA / Altoona Area) led all scorers with 28, moving her career total to 1,310 points and putting her in eighth place on the Jaspers' all-time scoring list, surpassing current Manhattan Athletic Director Marianne Reilly, who finished her career with 1,305. Earlier in the year, Grimme passed Reilly's 860 career rebounds to move into third place on the all-time rebounding list. Grimme's eight rebounds against Niagara put her at 875 for her career. 

Averaging just over three minutes per game going into the Niagara match-up, sophomore KellyAnne O'Reilly (Montville, NJ / Montville Township) went 5-5 from the floor against the Purple Eagles on Thursday, including four threes, for a total of 14 points. In 26 minutes of play, O'Reilly also contributed three assists and two steals on her career-scoring night. Senior Mikki Guiton (Schwenksville, PA / Perkiomen) added 13 points for Manhattan, also going 5-5 in just 16 minutes of play. 

In another career-high, sophomore Gabby Cajou (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland) had 11 assists, a team-high for the season. Manhattan's 25 total assists was also a team season high for the Jaspers.

Manhattan jumped out to an early lead, up 8-2 on the Purple Eagles just over three minutes into the first quarter. The Jaspers went up by as many as 13 in the first 10 minutes, with Grimme scoring 11 points before the quarter was over. Though Niagara outscored Manhattan 14-12 in the second, the Jaspers took a 36-27 lead into the locker room at the half. Unable to adjust to Manhattan's hot offense, the Purple Eagles let up 56 points in the second half, with Manhattan shooting 72 percent in the final 20 minutes of play. 

The Jaspers were also able to capitalize on Niagara's 22 turnovers, converting them for 27 points. Manhattan outscored the Purple Eagles 18-2 on fastbreak points and 36-24 in the paint. Victoria Rampado, the MAAC's leading scorer, put in 16 for Niagara, in addition to finishing with 14 rebounds. 

Up Next:
The Jaspers play their second game in two days as they take on Fairfield at home on Saturday, February 10 at 3 p.m.