Manhattan University Athletics

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Bella Nascimento continued to stay hot from her games in Phoenix, contributing 16 points in a 65-55 loss to Fordham in the 52nd edition of the Battle of the Bronx.

Fordham improves to 5-4 on the year, while Manhattan falls to 2-5. 

Fordham jumped out to an early lead and never let it go. They shot 70-percent in the first quarter en route to a 28-15 lead at the end of the opening 10 minutes of play.

The second quarter was a defensive battle, with 19 points being scored between the two teams, with Fordham dropping 10 and the Jaspers putting nine on the board. 

In the third quarter, the Green and White began to cut into the Rams' lead. The Green and White went on an 11-5 run to close third, breathing some life into the team's comeback attempt. Nascimento contributed six in that stretch, while Dee Dee Davis added three. The other two points came from Brazil Harvey-Carr, who made her season debut Saturday and scored her first bucket on a layup off an offensive rebound.

The Jaspers got the lead down to eight in the fourth quarter at multiple points but never could break through. A Kaitlyn Downey three with 1:21 left sealed the game for the Rams.

In addition to her 16 points, Nascimento hauled six rebounds and recorded a chase-down block. Davis posted her second double-double of the season, contributing 15 points and securing 12 rebounds.

Asiah Dingle, who was crowned the MVP of the Battle of the Bronx, poured in a game-high 22 points and handed out seven assists. 

The Jaspers visit the nation's capital for a matchup with George Washington on Friday, Dec. 9, with tipoff scheduled for 6 p.m.