Albany, NY (March 4, 2004) - In the first round of the 2004 MAAC women's basketball tournament, the Lady Jaspers downed #7 Fairfield in overtime. The Lady Jaspers were led by senior Rosalee Mason who tallied a game high 25 points and added 10 rebounds and junior Donnette Reed who tallied 23 points, with four rebounds and four assists. With the victory, Manhattan advances to the second round of the tournament to face #2 Marist.
The Lady Jaspers jumped out to a 10-4 run to start the first half. The Stags soon bounced back with five quick points to put them within one. The Lady Jaspers held the lead for much of the half until a Candice Lindsay jumper put Fairfield ahead 17-16 at the 4:43 mark. Manhattan recaptured the lead and went into the half ahead 23-20. Mason led the Lady Jaspers recording eight points and three rebounds in the half.
The Stags surged onto an 11-3 run at the beginning of the second half to put them up 31-26 at the 13:54 mark. Manhattan quickly posted four points to put them within one, 31-30. The Stags extended their one point lead with an 8-2 run, propelling Fairfield ahead, 39-32 with 9:25 remaining. The Lady Jaspers would cut the lead to two, with a Danielle Cooper jumper at the 7:31 mark, making the score 41-39. Cara Murphy nailed a three pointer for Fairfield giving them the 44-39 lead, but Kristen Tracey soon knocked down a jumper to pull Manhattan back within three, 44-41. The Lady Jaspers cut the lead to one with two free throws by Rosalee Mason with 5:56 remaining. The Stags managed to hold the lead until Donnette Reed made a layup to even the score at 49 with 58 seconds left. Janelle McManus tallied a layup to put Fairfield ahead 51-49 with 26 seconds remaining. But with four seconds left, Reed made a layup to send the contest into overtime, deadlocked at 51.
After Janelle McManus knocked down a jumper for the Stags, Manhattan would take control, going on a 7-1 run, to give the Lady Jaspers the 60-54 lead. After two free throws by Cathy Dash, Reed recorded the last six points to give Manhattan the first round victory, 66-56. The Lady Jaspers went 18-18 from the free throw line for the game, as Rosalee Mason went 13-13.
Joining Mason and Reed in double figures was freshman Kristen Tracey, who recorded 10 points, adding five rebounds. The Lady Jaspers out-rebounded the Stags 42-36.
The Lady Jaspers will face #2 Marist tomorrow at 11:30 am in the second round of the 2004 MAAC Tournament.