Riverdale, N.Y. (December 11, 2005)--With the game hanging in the balance, sophomore guard
Gabrielle Cottrell scored seven points in a 1:21 span down the stretch to power Manhattan Women's Basketball to a 70-63 victory over conference foe Niagara on Sunday afternoon at Draddy Gym. With the win, the Lady Jaspers improve their record to 4-4 overall and 1-1 in the MAAC, while the Purple Eagles fall to 1-7 overall and 0-2 in conference play.
Niagara took its last lead on a Chantelle Wilson layup with 5:17 remaining in the first half, but the Purple Eagles managed to hang around and pull even with just under five minutes to play in the game. Niagara's Sarah Wilson hit a three-pointer from the right corner to tie the game at 56 with 4:45 remaining, and then Cottrell took over. With 3:12 remaining, and the Lady Jaspers holding the slimmest of leads at 57-56, Cottrell converted a three-point play by knocking down a jumper and drawing a foul from Sarah Wilson.
Niagara forward Shaunna Ambrose, who posted a game-high 19 points, hit a three-pointer just 20 seconds later to trim the Manhattan lead back down to one point at 60-59. Cottrell, however, answered right back with three-ball of her own from beyond the right arc at the 2:24 mark. On Niagara's ensuing possession, a Sarah Wilson three-point attempt came off of the rim, and Cottrell was there to grab the defensive board. In all, the sophomore guard finished with 17 points, a career-high 11 rebounds, and four assists.
Fellow sophomore guard
Joann Nwafili added eight points and a career-high 13 boards en route to the victory. Together, Cottrell and Nwafili corralled 24 rebounds to match the total number of rebounds by the entire Niagara team in the game. As a team, the Lady Jaspers outrebounded the Purples Eagles 43-24.
Manhattan freshmen forwards
Kelly Regan and
Kymesha Alston also contributed to the win. Regan finished with nine points, while Alston added seven points and seven boards.
After a six-day layoff, Manhattan Women's Basketball returns to action in Hamden, Conn., as the Lady Jaspers take on Quinnipiac University on December 18 at 12:00 p.m.
