Box Score
RICHMOND, Va. – Playing for the first time in 12 days, the Manhattan College women's basketball team jumped out to a 12-point lead on host VCU midway through the first half on Wednesday. However, the Rams (9-1) rallied to take a halftime lead, then maintained that advantage throughout the second half of an 85-64 victory over the Jaspers (1-7) at Verizon Wireless Arena. Shayna Ericksen (Long Valley, N.J.) had a career-high 24 points in the losing effort.
After VCU jumped out to an early 8-3 lead, Ericksen scored six straight points to put Manhattan in front, 9-8. Jessica Pellechio responded with a three-pointer for the Rams, but VCU would then be held without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes. The Jaspers regained the lead on a Blake Underhill (Edgewater, N.J.) layup and extended that advantage to six, 19-13, on back-to-back treys by Nicole Isaacs (Fair Haven, N.J.).
Manhattan continued its three-point barrage, getting long balls from Allison Skrec (Roselle, N.J.) and Isaacs to open up a 12-point cushion, 27-15, with 9:00 left in the first half. However, VCU battled back, outscoring the Jaspers 13-2 over the next 5:32 to pull within one, 29-28, at the 3:38 mark. After a Skrec layup and an Ericksen jumper pushed Manhattan's advantage back to five at 33-28, the Rams ended the period on a 12-0 run to take a 40-33 lead into the locker room.
The Jaspers trimmed the margin to four early in the second half before the Rams went on an 8-0 spurt to make it a 12-point game, 53-41. Manhattan again pulled within seven, 53-46, on a three-point play by Underhill and a Kayla Grimme (Altoona, Pa.) layup, but Isis Thorpe hit a trey on the ensuing VCU possession, and the difference wouldn't dip below double-digits again.
An Ericksen layup brought Manhattan within 14 at 68-54 with 6:47 left, but VCU countered with 17 of the next 24 points to open up its biggest lead of the game, 83-61, with 2:50 remaining. Manhattan got a pair of free throws from Ericksen and another by Underhill to make it an 83-64 game before Adaeze Alaeze converted a layup in the final seconds to wrap up the 85-64 VCU victory. It was the Rams' eighth straight win, as well as Manhattan's seventh consecutive loss.
Ericksen went 10-for-13 from the field and 4-for-6 at the line in the game. She also grabbed a team-best eight rebounds. Isaacs poured in 14 points, while Underhill had the first double-digit scoring effort of her career with 12 points. Underhill added three assists and three steals. Skrec, meanwhile, handed out nine assists to go along with five points and five boards. As a team, the Jaspers shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53) from the field, 28 percent (7-of-25) from downtown, and 69.2 percent (9-of-13) at the free throw line.
Robyn Parks, who came into the contest averaging a double-double, finished with 29 points and seven rebounds for the Rams. Keira Robinson notched 14 points, eight assists and five steals, while Pellechio tallied 12 points. Zakia Williams collected four assists and three steals, as VCU registered 19 of each as a team. The Rams shot 42.4 percent (28-of-66) from the floor, 31 percent (9-of-29) from long range, and 87 percent (20-of-23) at the charity stripe.
Wednesday's contest was Manhattan's final non-conference road game of the season. The Jaspers conclude non-conference play on Saturday night, when rival Fordham (8-2) comes to Draddy Gymnasium for the annual “Battle of the Bronx” at 7 p.m. Manhattan is looking to snap a two-game losing streak in the series.
NOTES: VCU now leads the all-time series 2-1…The Jaspers visited the Rams for the first time since Nov. 29, 1986, and played a game in the State of Virginia for the first time since Nov. 15, 2009…Manhattan used a different starting lineup for the fourth straight game, with Underhill making her first start of the season…The teams were even in rebounds, 31-31, marking the first time this season Manhattan wasn't outrebounded…Ericksen's previous career-high was 16 points, which she achieved twice last season…Underhill had five points, her previous career-best, at Towson on Nov. 16…Manhattan's first basket of the game was the 200th career three-pointer for Monica Roeder (Marlton, N.J.), making her just the third Jasper all-time to reach that mark…Roeder now has 1,101 career points…The 12-day break between games was Manhattan's longest of the season…It was the Rams' “Education Day” game, which was the reason for the 11 a.m. start time.