Knights Top Valiants, Run Winning Streak to Five

PURCHASE – The Mount Saint Mary College Women’s Basketball team handed Manhattanville its first conference loss of the season and in the process pushed its winning streak to five games with a 61-51 road triumph Saturday afternoon. Asia Rivera and Katie Smith led the scoring attack with 11 points apiece.

The Mount’s fifth straight victory moves its record to 9-3 overall on the season and 6-1 in conference play, while Manhattanville drops to 10-2 overall and 7-1 in league competition.

First Half
Manhattanville opened an early 10-6 advantage on a Jamison Agostino three-pointer midway through the opening period.

The Knights responded with the final 11 points of the first quarter to open a 17-10 advantage through 10 minutes of play.

K. Smith scored five points in the run with Kaeli McAnally scoring the final four points of the period, both layups in the final minute of the stanza.

Mount Saint Mary pushed its lead to double-figures for the first time when Ciarra Quinn canned a three-pointer on the opening possession of the second quarter to make the score 20-10.

The Knights pushed in front by 10 points again on a Rivera conversion at the 6:29 mark of the quarter before an Erin Smith three-pointer gave the Knights a half-high 33-20 lead with just over two minutes left in the first half.

Manhattanville closed the half with the final six points, but just one field goal, to cut the Mount’s halftime advantage to 33-26.

Mount Saint Mary shot 43.8-percent over the opening 20 minutes and hit on three triples.
Manhattanville was limited to 28.6-percent shooting before halftime and went 2-for-9 from three-point range.

Manhattanville outscored the Mount 8-2 from the free-throw line in the first half.

K. Smith paced the Knights with nine first half points.

Julianna Kascic led the Valiants with seven first half tallies.

Second Half
Manhattanville came out of halftime with the first four points, cutting the Mount’s lead to 33-30 on a Amanda Orlando bucket 54 seconds into the third frame.

The Knights moved their lead back out to eight points on a three-point play from Rivera with 5:49 left in the frame and later pushed in front 45-36 on another Rivera bucket with just over a minute left in the period.

Manhattanville got to within six on a Livi Correia triple, but a pair of E. Smith free-throws gave the Knights a 47-39 lead heading to the final stanza.

Lauren Desrats moved the Mount back in front by 10 points with a layup 1:15 into the final quarter.

Manhattanville battled back to within 52-48 on a Niyona Smith bucket with 3:59 left to play.

Mount Saint Mary answered back with a 9-3 closing run to match its largest lead of the period and send the Knights to the final 61-51 decision.

Desrats opened the run with a three-pointer and the Mount defense held the Valiants to just one field goal over the final 2:03 of the contest.

Mount Saint Mary dipped to 27.3-percent shooting after halftime with just two three-pointers.

Manhattanville improved to 40-percent shooting in the second half, but made just one triple and misfired on 10 free-throws.

Rivera scored nine second half points to lead the Knights.

Orlando tallied seven times after halftime for Manhattanville.

For The Knights
Smith finished the day 4-for-11 from the floor on her way to 11 points, adding five rebounds and a game-high four assists.

Rivera joined K. Smith with 11 points, chipping in four rebounds and a pair of steals.

E. Smith contributed nine points and four rebounds.

Desrats led the team with six rebounds and supported the offense with five points.

McAnally led the team with three steals to go along with four points and four rebounds.

For The Valiants
Smith led all scorers with 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting and posted seven rebounds.

Orlando totaled 11 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Kascic also scored 11 points and finished a double-double with a game-high 11 rebounds.