Staten Island, NY (December 28, 2004)- Despite shooting 25.8% from the field, Manhattan escaped from the Spiro Sports Center with a hard-fought, 44-39 victory over Wagner tonight. In her first collegiate start, freshman
Aubrie Dellinger led Manhattan with 11 points. Joy Gallagher led all scorers with 13 for the Seahawks.
Both teams started out cold early as the Lady Jaspers were held scoreless for 9:35 in the first half. A three-pointer from junior
Lupe Godinez ended Manhattan's drought and cut Wagner's lead to 9-7 with 7:13 remaining in the first half. The Lady Jaspers pulled out to a 15-11 lead on a three ball from Dellinger, but the Seahawks responded with two treys of their own to take a 17-16 lead at halftime.
The second half was a defensive struggle as well-neither team took more than a five-point lead during the game. However, junior
Jennifer LePinnet scored in the paint with 2:15 remaining in regulation to give Manhattan a 40-35 lead, while the Lady Jaspers would hold strong on the defensive end, and ultimately held Wagner to 33.3% shooting from the field for the game.
Godinez chipped in with eight points, while freshman
Gabrielle Cottrell nailed a key three-pointer to increase Manhattan's lead to 36-31 with 6:23 left, and scored five points in the second half.
The 39 points scored by Wagner are the fewest a Manhattan opponent has scored since January 12, 2003, when the Lady Jaspers defeated Marist, 56-38.
Manhattan returns to action on Thursday, December 30, when they will travel to Philadelphia to face Big East power Villanova. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.
