Riverdale, NY - Manhattan College's Amani Tatum (Cambria Heights, NY / James Madison) tallied a career-high 28 points Thursday, December 28, lifting the Jaspers (4-8, 1-0) over Saint Peter's (3-9, 0-1) 76-64 in the team's first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) game of the 2017-18 season.
Tatum shot more than 55 percent from the field on the night, including 4-8 from beyond the arc. She scored 16 of her total points in the first half, including a 10-point second quarter. Her previous career high was 22 points against Bucknell on December 20, 2016.
As a team, the Jaspers took advantage of Saint Peter's missteps, scoring 28 points off 20 turnovers. Manhattan also dominated in the paint, scoring 36 points to Saint Peter's 19.
The Jaspers combined for 15 steals on the defensive end, including six from sophomore guard Gabby Cajou (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland). To add to her 10 points, Cajou had five assists. One of the league leaders in field-goal percentage this season, she also went 4-7 from the floor.
After a quite start to the game, senior center Kayla Grimme (Altoona, PA / Altoona Area), the Jaspers' leading scorer, put in 15 for Manhattan, including nine fourth-quarter points. Freshman center Courtney Warley (West Chester, PA / Bishop Shanahan) lead the team in rebounds with seven.
Up Next:
The Jaspers take on Quinnipiac at 2 p.m. in Draddy Gymnasium on Sunday, December 31. The Bobcats, who were picked to finish first the in the MAAC preseason coaches' poll, defeated Siena 68-54 on Thursday night.