Manhattan Topples Loyola On ?Kid?s Day Out?

Box Score

2012-13 Manhattan Women's Basketball Yearbook 

RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan College women's basketball team gave the more than 500 students at local elementary schools in attendance something to cheer about on "Kid's Day Out" at Draddy Gymnasium.  The Jaspers (5-11, 2-3 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) used a 19-0 first-half run to take control en route to a 62-50 victory over Loyola (6-10, 1-4 MAAC) on Friday afternoon.  With the win, Manhattan snapped its seven-game home losing streak against the Greyhounds, as well as a three-game skid overall.

Loyola scored the first six points of the game and led 9-2 after a three-pointer by Diana Logan at the 14:24 mark.  However, Allison Skrec (Roselle, N.J.) responded with a layup on the other end to begin the Jaspers' run.  Manhattan took the lead for the first time when Shayna Ericksen's (Hackettstown, N.J.) layup made it 10-9 with 11:22 remaining before halftime.  A Skrec jumper increased the Jaspers' advantage to 12 points at 21-9 with 5:33 left in the half, then Loyola's Alyssa Sutherland hit a pair of free throws to halt the run.

After a Nicole Krusen layup, the Greyhounds' first field goal in nearly 10 minutes, brought Loyola within 10 at 23-13, a pair of Toni-Ann Lawrence (Elmont, N.Y.) free throws started another 6-0 Manhattan rally that increased the Jaspers' cushion to 16 points, 29-13.  Manhattan held Loyola to 14.8 percent (4-of-27) shooting in the first half and led 29-16 at the break.

A three-pointer by Katie Reese (Mountain Lakes, N.J.) three minutes into the second half gave Manhattan a 35-21 advantage, but Loyola responded with nine of the next 11 points to cut its deficit to seven, 37-30, with 14:17 left.  The Jaspers got a layup from Ashley Stec (Cazenovia, N.Y.) and a Monica Roeder (Marlton, N.J.) to run the margin back to 12 points, 42-30, before Loyola scored the next five points to again pull within seven, 42-35.

However, a floater by Nicole Isaacs (Fair Haven, N.J.) with 10:06 remaining started an 11-1 Manhattan run, and the Jaspers' lead reached a game-high 17 points on Stec's layup that made it 53-36 with 5:14 to go.  The Greyhounds pulled within seven, 57-50, with less than a minute remaining, but the Jaspers went 5-for-6 at the line down the stretch to finish off a 62-50 victory.

Stec tallied a career-high 14 points to lead the Jaspers.  She added five rebounds and tied a career-best with four assists.  Lawrence recorded career-highs with four steals and three blocks to go along with 12 points and eight boards, while Roeder added 10 points and six rebounds.  Skrec contributed nine points in the victory.  As a team, Manhattan shot 49 percent (29-of-49) from the field and outrebounded Loyola 35-34.  The Jaspers shot 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from three-point range and 62.5 percent (10-of-16) at the free throw line.

Kara Marshall had 18 points to pace the Greyhounds, who were without MAAC Preseason Player of the Year Katie Sheahin.  Marshall also recorded three assists and six steals.  Tiffany Padgett finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Krusen added 10 points.  Sutherland distributed five assists, and Logan pulled down six rebounds for Loyola.  Overall, the Greyhounds shot 30.4 percent (17-of-56) from the field, 26.9 percent (7-of-26) from downtown, and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) at the charity stripe.

The Jaspers are back on the road on Sunday, when they visit Fairfield (9-6, 3-1 MAAC) at 2 p.m.  The Stags won both meetings between the squads last season.