Riverdale, NY (December 2, 2004)- Behind 23 points from senior forward
Serra Sangar (Istanbul, Turkey/Colby JC) and 17 points and a career-high 13 assists from senior guard
Donnette Reed (Syracuse, NY/Nottingham), Manhattan defeated Iona tonight at Draddy Gymnasium, 86-71, in the MAAC opener for both teams. The Lady Jaspers improve their record to 3-1 with the victory.
Freshman guard
Joann Nwafili (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) helped the Lady Jaspers jump out to a 26-16 lead with 7:39 remaining in the first half. The layup capped a remarkable run for Nwafili during the stretch, in which she scored 14 of Manhattan's first 26 points. Nwafili finished the game with a career-high 17 points in 21 minutes. Iona would keep the game close, however, but as time expired in the first half, sophomore guard
Kristen Tracey (Bronx, NY/Cardinal Spellman) nailed a three-pointer from the wing to give Manhattan a 42-34 halftime lead.
Iona closed to within two points (48-46) on a layup by Melissa Yeagley with 13:38 left, but that was as close as the Gaels would get. Sophomore forward
Michelle Bernal-Silva (Boontown Township, NJ/Mountain Lakes) converted a three-point play with 3:43 left in regulation to give Manhattan a 74-67 lead and the Lady Jaspers would eventually collect their first conference victory.
Bernal-Silva finished with a season-high 11 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes for Manhattan, while Tracey shot 3-5 from downtown for nine points. Regan Pettijohn led Iona with 19 points, while Yeagley and Meg Abele each had 16 for the Gaels (0-5, 0-1).
Manhattan shot 55.6% from the field and 7-16 (43.8%) from three-point range, while Iona shot 51% for the game and 60.9% in the second half. The Lady Jaspers forced Iona to commit 27 turnovers, while only committing 13 themselves. Manhattan also had 16 steals and scored 25 points off Iona turnovers.
Reed's 13 assists and seven steals are the most in a single game registered by any player in the MAAC this season. Reed also came within one assist of the Manhattan record for assists in a game, held by Trish McGrail (14 assists vs. Fairfield, 1/27/80). Meanwhile, Sangar came within one point of her career-high of 24 points, which was set just four days ago vs. Bucknell.
The Lady Jaspers improve to 1-0 in the MAAC and will resume conference play on the road on Sunday, December 5, against Fairfield. Game time is 1:00 p.m.
