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Michelle Manfredi
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RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Niagara University Purple Eagle women’s basketball team was able to slip by MAAC rival Manhattan 67-66 at Draddy Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon. The Purple Eagles improve to 6-20 (4-11 MAAC) with the victory.
With the score tied at 64, Caitlin Flood nailed a layup to put the Jaspers up by two with eight seconds left. Down by two with only a few seconds to spare, senior Michelle Manfredi (Jefferson Hills, PA.) hit a clutch, buzzer-beating three-pointer to clinch the victory for the Purple Eagles.
Head coach Kendra Faustin is proud of her whole team in this true team effort.
“It was a back and forth game, which was hard fought to the end,” Faustin stated. “I’m so happy for Michelle right now as it couldn’t of happened to a better person. She has given so much for this program.”
Niagara thrived on a defensive first half, as an Ashley Cornett (Campbell, N.Y.) basket halfway through the first half put the Purple Eagles up 14-7. The Purple Eagles would hold onto the lead until a Caitlin Flood three-pointer put the Jaspers up 20-19. Niagara battled back, as Manfredi made a layup to take the lead again at 21-20.The Purple Eagles would battle with Manhattan down the stretch, as the Jaspers took a lead only for Jennifer McNamee (Oxford, Ohio) hit a trey to tie the game at 24 with three minutes left. The two evenly-matched teams kept going toe to toe until the half, which saw the Purple Eagles up 32-30. McNamee and Manfredi scored six points apiece for Niagara.
The second half panned out just like the first half did, with several lead changes. Three minutes into the second half, a Liz Flooks (White Plains, N.Y.) basket put Niagara up 41-37. Manhattan took the lead again with 13 minutes left to play until Flooks made a three pointer halfway through the final frame. The Jaspers took back the lead once again, until Sara Prybyl (Mars, Pa.) made a layup with six and a half minutes left to tie the game at 56.
The game was tied at 60 just three minutes later until McNamee sank a bucket to put Niagara up by two. Manhattan then went on a mini 4-0 run to take the lead, only to have McNamee sink two free throws to tie the game at 64 with 90 seconds remaining.
Four Purple Eagles finished with double-digits, as Flooks scored 15 points, Wilson and Manfredi netted 11 each, while McNamee netted 10 points.
The Purple Eagles head back home now to finish out the remainder of their regular season, starting on Friday night at 7 p.m. against Loyola.
