Riverdale, NY (February 10, 2005)- Janelle McManus hit what proved to be a game-winning jumper with a defender in her face to give Fairfield a 56-54 lead with 3.2 seconds left. Manhattan got off a desperation shot at half-court that fell short, and the Stags escaped with the two-point victory tonight at Draddy Gym. Freshman
Aubrie Dellinger led all scorers with 15 points for the Lady Jaspers.
In a game that featured 13 ties and 11 lead changes, Manhattan (9-13, 5-8 MAAC) went into intermission with a 27-25 lead. Dellinger scored 13 of her 15 points in the first half, hitting 3-7 from long range. McManus scored eight of her team-high 14 points in the first stanza.
After being down at halftime, Fairfield (8-14, 6-7 MAAC) jumped out to a 43-37 lead on a McManus jumper with 12:57 remaining, marking the largest lead that either team would hold during the game. Manhattan then reeled off an 11-2 run behind six points from senior
Serra Sangar during the stretch. The lead went back and forth from there, as the Stags took a two-point lead on a traditional three-point play converted by Cathy Dash with 2:12 left in regulation, giving Fairfield a 54-52 advantage. Two possessions later, however, senior guard
Donnette Reed forced a turnover, started a fast break, and dished off to freshman
Caitlin Flood for a layup to tie the game at 54 with just over a minute remaining, setting up McManus' heroics in the closing seconds.
Sangar added 12 points and nine rebounds for Manhattan, while Flood had eight points, six rebounds, and five steals. Meanwhile, Dash totaled 10 points and nine rebounds and Candice Lindsay added nine points and seven boards for the Stags.
The Lady Jaspers will return to action on Saturday, February 12, when they will host St. Peter's in a matchup beginning at 2:00 p.m. The game will be televised on RNN via tape delay on Sunday, February 13, at 12 noon.
