RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan Jaspers women's basketball team (4-12, 4-3 MAAC), led by four players scoring in double figures, won their fourth out of the last five games, today against the Mountaineers of Mount St. Mary's (7-9, 3-4 MAAC) by a final score of 68-59 inside Draddy Gymnasium on Wednesday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In front of a raucous crowd from four separate elementary schools, Brianna Davis got the scoring started to tie the game at three.
- Kristina Juric rallied for the next two baskets to take an early Jasper lead.
- Juric followed up Elisa Solé Sanchez's score to end the opening quarter with a five point Green and White advantage.
- Davis stormed into the paint with a high-flying tip-in to get things going in the second frame.
- Solé Sanchez knocked down an important one from beyond the arc, putting Manhattan up eight points, their biggest advantage on the day thus far.
- The Mount quickly fired back with six unanswered, but four more points from Juric to end the half kept the visitors at bay heading into the break.
- Out of the locker room, Colette Mulderig put together three of the first four Manhattan field goals, extending the lead to a new high of nine.
- Free throws were the name of the game in the third quarter, as the Jaspers tied for a game-high of eight attempts in the frame. Hana Mühl collected three points via the stripe, contributing to her total of five on the day.
- Mount St. Mary's found their way back into the game to open up the fourth, scoring six unanswered to knot the score at 43 apiece.
- With over 1,500 strong inside Draddy waiting on bated breath, Mühl and Solé Sanchez both tied and took the lead for the Jaspers, respectively at 47-47 and 49-48 with 6:53 to play.
- Up four with 3:30 to play, Solé Sanchez lit up the gym with an electrifying three-point shot.
- One possession later, she'd do the same on the left wing, letting out a passionate scream to her bench-mates beside her, extending the lead to eight.
- The free throw game ensued for the final 30 seconds, with the Jaspers holding on for a nine point win.
STATS AND NOTES
- Redshirt Sophomore forward Kristina Juric scored a new career-high of 22 points on 10-for-13 shooting along with nine rebounds.
- Graduate guard Elisa Solé Sanchez continues to outdo herself, scoring a Division I-high for the third consecutive game. this time with 18 on three-for-eight shooting from beyond the arc. The Spanish native also led the squad in assists with seven.
- Graduate forward Colette Mulderig posted her second consecutive double-double, with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
- Juric and Mulderig each swatted four shots to accumulate the highest amount of blocks by the Jaspers this season with eight.
- Manhattan shot at its best rate in the final quarter, with a 67% clip. This is the highest single quarter shooting percentage Manhattan has posted in 2025-26.
QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS
- Head Coach Heather Vulin: "Today was always going to feel like a playoff game ... Really impressed that we battled, when Mount took the lead back, I feel like we stayed locked in and had a real ultimate great team win today."
- Vulin on continuing the momentum: "We've struggled offensively to start this year, but with this stretch of games where we've been scoring and winning, I feel like we're getting stronger and confident. I want to make sure we can be consistent with the scoring and continue this stretch going forward."
- R-Sophomore forward Kristina Juric: "It's great knowing I could help our team get this win today, really important for us and hoping we can continue going this way."
- Juric on how the win will build the team's confidence going forward: "I think it means a lot, we're starting to play more as a team and it's showing on the court, this will do a lot for us going into future MAAC play."
NEXT UP:
Manhattan will continue its 2025-26 campaign on Saturday, January 17 when the Jaspers go back on the road for the rematch against the Stags from Fairfield. Action is scheduled to take place from Leo D. Mahoney Arena starting at 2 p.m. and can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
