Riverdale, N.Y. (November 18, 2005)--Sophomore
Caitlin Flood's game-tying layup attempt with 13 seconds remaining rolled off the rim, as Manhattan Women's Basketball fell to the Syracuse Orange, 65-61, in the season opener on Friday night at Draddy Gym. Flood, who finished with 11 points, was one of three Lady Jaspers to score in double figures.
Joining Flood in double digits were freshman forward
Kymesha Alston, who scored a team-high 13 points on 6-11 shooting, and sophomore guard
Joann Nwafili, who finished with 12 points.
With the game knotted at 28 coming out of the break, Nwafili, a Pre-season All-MAAC Third Team selection, converted on a layup 17 seconds into the second half to give the Lady J's a 30-28 lead. Syracuse, however, answered right back, as Keri Laimbeer, who finished with 15 points and five rebounds, knocked down a jumper to cap off a 7-0 Orange run.
Although the Lady Jaspers would never regain the lead after the Syracuse spurt, they never fell behind by more than seven points the entire night.
Syracuse led in the early going, but a Nwafili three-point basket with 11:06 remaining in the first half gave Manhattan its first lead of the game at 12-11. Less than a minute later, however, Syracuse's Ashley McMillen knocked down a three-pointer for her only field goal of the game to put the Orange back in front. Lady Jasper senior guard
Lupe Godinez answered right with a three of her own, as the lead changed hands seven times in the last 11 minutes of the first half.
Syracuse's Jenny Eckhart led all scorers with 20 points, while Tracy Harbut added a double-double for the Orange by recording 10 points and 13 rebounds. Alston was Manhattan's high rebounder with six.
The Lady Jaspers return to the hardwood on Tuesday night, November 22, as they host Wagner College at Draddy Gym. Tip-off is 7:00 p.m.
