FAIRFIELD, CONN. – The Manhattan women's basketball team suffered a heartbreaking setback at the hands of Fairfield, 52-50, at the Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Saturday in MAAC play.
The Jaspers drop to 5-10 overall and 2-4 in the MAAC, while the Stags move to 8-6 and 3-2 in the MAAC.
"Heartbreaking loss on the road today," commented head coach
Heather Vulin. "Our team needs to be able to close out games in the fourth quarter. I was really impressed with
Jade Blagrove today. She gave us everything she had and made an impact on both sides of the ball."
The game came down to the wire, with the Jaspers entering the final quarter with a 46-39 lead. The Stags steadily cut into the lead in the quarter, getting it down to three before an
Anne Bair jumper made the score 48-43. Fairfield's Callie Cavanagh drove into the lane and finished through contact for an and-one. She sank the free throw to trim the lead to 50-48. She then hit a layup to tie the game up at 50-50 with 1:47 left.
On the next trip down, Blagrove used a drop step on her defender to create some space but could not finish the layup.
Dee Dee Davis secured the Jaspers a second chance but couldn't convert the tough layup attempt and Fairfield secured the defensive rebound. Following a Stags timeout, they hoisted a triple but could not connect which was followed by a timeout by the Green and White.
Leyla Ozturk took a deep ball but could not hit it and the Stags regained possession and once again called timeout. On the next inbound pass, Davis stepped up and showed leadership and stole the inbound pass. However, she was picked up at half court and the Stags' Janelle Brown picked her pocket and finished in transition to take a 52-50 lead.
Davis recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Blagrove turned in her second double-figure scoring performance of the season with 10 points.
Helena Galunic provided five points and six rebounds. Ozturk rejected a trio of Stag shots.
Manhattan returns to the hardwood on Thursday for an 11 a.m. tip-off against Siena at Draddy Gym for Kids Day.
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