Riverdale, N.Y. (January 12, 2007)? Jill Glessner led a balanced attack for the Greyhounds with 19 points as Loyola handed Manhattan its sixth straight loss Friday night. Loyola improves its record to 8-7 overall and 3-2 in the MAAC. The Lady Jaspers drop to 4-11 on the season and 1-4 in the MAAC.
Manhattan trailed early in the contest, but a three-pointer by Caitlin Flood, who equalled her career high with 22 points on seven of nine shooting, tied the score at eight a piece. But on the ensuing possession, Glessner converted a lay-up to put Loyola back in front at 10-8. Again in possession of the lead, the Greyhounds stayed in front for the rest of the game, steadily increasing its margin over the rest of the half.
Perhaps signaling that it wasn't Manhattan's night, a buzzer beater by Glessner gave Loyola its largest lead of the half. After stealing the ball from Annie McIntyre in Manhattan's end, Glessner raced up the floor and fired off a shot from half court that banked in as the buzzer sounded, giving the Greyhounds a 35-19 halftime lead.
Glessner, the MAAC's second leading scorer coming into tonight, paced the Greyhounds' attack early, scoring 11 first half points on five of nine shooting. While Glessner nearly equaled her scoring average of 15.1 points per game in the first half, Loyola's 51 percent shooting was the main reason for the visitors' halftime advantage. The Lady Jaspers shot well from the field as well in the opening half, 38 percent, but Loyola took 11 more shots in the half thanks to a big 20-7 advantage in rebounding.
Loyola maintained its double-digit lead throughout much of the second half until Manhattan made a late run. Trailing 59-40 with 5:43 remaining, a lay-up by Gabrielle Cottrell kick started a 10-0 run that got the Lady Jaspers to within 10 with just under three minutes remaining. However, that's as close as Loyola would let the home side get, as the Greyhounds hit several shots down the stretch to hang on for the win.
Flood's 22 points was the third consecutive game the junior has reached 20 or more points. The Blairstown, N.J. native as now scored 63 points in her last three games.
Manhattan returns to action this Sunday, when the Lady Jaspers make the short trip up to New Rochelle for a rematch with Iona. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from the Hynes Athletic Center.
