ALBUQUERQUE, NM (March 22, 2003) - Despite a valiant effort, the Manhattan College women's basketball team lost 73-47 to #3 seed Mississippi State in front of a sold out crowd at The Pit.
The Lady Jaspers, the 14th seed, concludes the season with a 20-10 overall record while the Lady Bulldogs improve to 24-7 and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Manhattan fell behind 11-0 to start the game. The Lady Jasper's first half struggles continued as the Lady Bulldogs took a 36-14 lead at the half.
Mississippi built a 32 point lead, 63-31, but Manhattan continued to hustle and fight back. The Lady Jaspers went on a 5-0 run to make it 63-36.
Toyelle Wilson (Voorhees, NJ) converted a three-point play during the sequence. A few minutes later,
Donnette "Shorty" Reed (Syracuse, NY) dazzled the crowd with a behind-the-back pass to Wilson for the basket. Reed finished the game with six points and four assists.
Manhattan continued to apply the pressure and went on a 9-2 run to close the gap to 71-47. However, Mississippi State's sensational duo of LaToya Thomas and Tan White paced the Lady Bulldogs with 22 points apiece.
Rosalee Mason (London, England) scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the second half. Mason also led the Lady Jaspers in rebounds with nine.
Siobhan Kilkenny (Castlebar, Ireland) had 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists in her last game for Manhattan.
Tiffany Schettig (Altoona, PA) closed out her Manhattan career with five points.
Manhattan closed out its season by winning 17 of its last 19 contests.
