Nov. 24, 2007

Box Score

Riverdale, N.Y. - Stony Brook shot a season-high 49 percent from the field including 54 percent from three-point range but key free throw shooting down the stretch helped Manhattan beat the Stony Brook women's basketball team 74-68, at Draddy Gymnasium on Saturday evening. Stony Brook is now 2-3 on the season while Manhattan is 3-2.

"I was happy with our performance on the offensive side of the ball but on the defensive end we need to come up with more stops," head coach Michele Cherry said. "They had some wide open looks and we need to defend them better. Our bench play was solid. We played well after an eight day layoff."

Stony Brook started the game out hot, making its first four shots of the game helped by three-pointers from Misha Horsey (Wyncote, Pa.) and Joia Daniels (Silver Spring, Md.). Manhattan, however, stayed closed with the help of Gabrielle Cottrell who scored eight of the Jaspers' first 10 points. Manhattan's largest lead was seven points at 24-17 following a three-point play from Michelle Pachecho. The Seawolves answered back with a Kirsten Jeter (Elmont, N.Y.) three-point play after she hit a layup and was fouled.

After Aubrie Dellinger scored the next five points for Manhattan, baskets from Jeter and Crystal Rushin (Valley Stream, N.Y.) cut the deficit to 5 at 29-24. Following a jumper from Misha Horsey, the Jaspers would go on a 9-2 run to close the half, helped by four points from Dellinger and Vaneesa Davison. The Seawolves shot 58 percent in the first half and led by Jeter and Daniels who each had seven points.

Stony Brook began the second half with a layup from Morgan Patrick, (Burlington, N.J.), four points from Aly Young (Lodi, Calif.) and forced four Jasper turnovers, cutting the lead to 44-38 before Dellinger hit a three-pointer.

Foul trouble on Dellinger and Caitlin Flood and poor shooting from Manhattan allowed the Seawolves to get back into the game as the visitors would get back within five after Aly Young converted a layup with 9:16 remaining in the contest. After a Cottrell basket, Kairsten Nunn (Bowie, Md.) came back with a three from the right side to cut the lead to 56-52 with just under eight minutes left in the game. Five points from Jodie Plikus with give the Seawolves their first lead since 10-8 at 57-56 with under seven minutes remaining.

Both teams traded baskets as Manhattan retook an eight-point lead following a four-point play from Cottrell after she was fouled by Plikus while hitting a three-pointer. Two free throws from Nunn and a three by Plikus would cut the lead to three with 1:54 remaining in the game.

Manhattan would seal the win with six free throws down the stretch from Cottrell, who scored 19 points, 11 in the second half. Dellinger was the high scorer for Manhattan with 26 points.

For the Seawolves, Plikus scored a career-high 14 points and was named America East player of the game. Young had 12 points and Patrick and Nunn each had eight.