Box Score
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BUFFALO, N.Y. - In front of a national audience on ESPNU, the Manhattan College women's basketball team had its most impressive defensive performance in nearly 20 years. After leading by three at halftime, the Lady Jaspers (14-6, 6-3 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) used a 25-0 second-half run to notch an easy 55-30 victory over Canisius (6-14, 2-7 MAAC) at the Koessler Athletic Center on Friday afternoon. It was Manhattan's first win over the Griffs in Buffalo since Jan. 12, 2001, and the 30 points allowed represents the Lady Jaspers' stingiest defensive effort since Columbia also had 30 during the 1991-92 season.
Manhattan scored the first seven points of the game, but Canisius rallied back to make it 7-5. The Lady Jaspers built a 10-point lead when a layup by Abby Wentworth (Portland, Maine) made the score 19-9 with 10:15 left in the first half. The Griffs rallied for the next nine points before a pair of Nadia Peters (Bronx, N.Y.) free throws again made it a three-point game, 21-18.
The Lady Jaspers led 23-20 at halftime, but the Griffs got within one again when a layup by Jamie Ruttle made it 25-24 at the 17:20 mark. After a traditional three-point play by Lindsey Loutsenhizer (North Huntingdon, Pa.), Ruttle went 1-for-2 at the foul line on the other end. Maggie Blair (Briarcliff, N.Y.) then hit a three from the top of the key to extend the Lady Jaspers' lead to six, 31-25, and ignite a 25-0 Manhattan run over the next 11 minutes. The lead reached 28 points, 53-25, on a pair of Wentworth free throws with 5:39 remaining. Canisius finally snapped its scoring drought on a layup by Tauralee Tenn eight seconds later before a pair of Loutsenhizer free throws finished off the 55-30 Manhattan victory.
"Tonight was truly a great team effort," Head Coach John Olenowski said. "Our defense was outstanding in the second half, and this led to numerous fast break opportunities. I thought that Nadia had an outstanding game, both offensively and defensively, and Abby had a great game. We also got a huge effort from Lindsey in the second half and Alyssa Herrington (Cambridge, N.Y.) sank two key threes. I'm very proud of the girls' effort tonight."
Peters had a double-double for the Lady Jaspers. She finished with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds while also adding five steals and five blocks. Wentworth tallied a game-high 14 points and handed out eight assists, while Loutsenhizer notched 13 points (all in the second half), five rebounds and four steals. Manhattan shot 33.3 percent (19-of-57) from the field, 29.6 percent (8-of-27) from long range, and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) at the charity stripe. The Lady Jaspers forced 27 Canisius turnovers, converting them into 21 points.
Ruttle led Canisius with eight points and nine rebounds. Steph MacDonald had eight boards and three blocks, while Courtney VandeBovenkamp grabbed seven rebounds, as the Griffs outrebounded the Lady Jaspers 44-36. Canisius shot 25 percent (12-of-48) from the field, including just 16 percent (4-of-25) in the second half. The Griffs shot 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from three-point range and 33.3 percent (2-of-6) at the free throw line.
On Sunday, the Lady Jaspers visit Niagara (1-19, 0-9 MAAC) looking to sweep the Buffalo trip for the first time in program history. Earlier this season at Draddy Gymnasium, Manhattan notched a 71-32 victory over the Purple Eagles.
NOTES: The Lady Jaspers had lost nine straight at the Koessler Athletic Center and 10 straight against Canisius in Buffalo...It was Manhattan's second straight win over Canisius, but the Griffs still lead the all-time series 28-19...The Lady Jaspers didn't trail in the contest...Manhattan's last televised victory was an 82-57 triumph over Iona on Feb. 15, 2008, which was also on ESPNU...The Lady Jaspers held their opponent under 40 points for the third time this season...Peters' five blocks are the most by a Manhattan player since she had a school-record seven against Saint Peter's on Dec. 9, 2007...Her double-double was the first by a Manhattan player this season, and the Lady Jaspers' first since Peters and Loutsenhizer both had double-doubles at Rider on Jan. 31, 2010...Loutsenhizer went 3-for-5 at the foul line, snapping her string of 19 consecutive successful free throw attempts...Her last missed free throw came at Fordham on Dec. 18.
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