RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan Jaspers women's basketball team (5-13, 5-4 MAAC), backed by 23 points from Brianna Davis, emerged victorious over the Broncs from Rider (4-14, 2-7 MAAC) by a final score of 58-46 inside Draddy Gymnasium on Monday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Davis scored the game's first basket within the first 60 seconds, driving inside through pressure to convert for two.
- Defense stood tall for the Jaspers in the opening frame, holding Rider scoreless until the 5:30 mark of the first.
- The Broncs scored the final four points of the quarter, taking a slim 8-7 lead by the first horn.
- Starting the second quarter on a hot streak, the visitors found themselves up by five after scoring the first four of the second.
- Manhattan ripped off the beginning of 18 unanswered points with just under seven minutes to play in the half, as Davis scored seven points herself in a two minute stretch.
- Hana Mühl put together a pair of scores on her own through driving layups to shift the game's momentum.
- Davis connected on one more shot from beyond the arc before the halftime buzzer, giving the Jaspers a 13 point lead heading into the locker room.
- Even without any baskets in the first two minutes, Manhattan was still able to keep pace with Rider, as Davis, Mühl, and Colette Mulderig were all able to contribute on the scoreboard.
- Mulderig collected two more scores in the final 65 seconds of the third, and Davis' pair from the stripple put her point total above 20 by the end of three.
- It was Mulderig again to start the fourth, giving herself double digits on the evening off a layup and a later free throw.
- Kristina Juric posted her first points of the night with around five minutes to play off a shifty layup from a Mulderig feed.
- Mühl too tallied her 10th and 11th points from the free throw line, becoming the third Jasper in double figures.
- Rider scored eight points in under a minute down the stretch, but it was too much to overcome the Manhattan offense, as the home team cruised to a double-digit triumph.
STATS AND NOTES
- Senior guard Brianna Davis had a stellar night in the stat sheet, tallying Division I high's with 23 points and 11 rebounds, along with two blocks. The Bronx, N.Y. native shot nine-for-15 from the field including three-for-four from behind the three-point line.
- Graduate forward Colette Mulderig posted 12 points along with nine rebounds and two blocks.
- Senior guard Hana Mühl was the third Jasper to score in double figures, accumulating 11 to compile with seven rebounds and two steals.
- Manhattan shot at its best rate in the second quarter, with a 57% clip.
QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS
- Head Coach Heather Vulin: "Credit to Rider for a hard-fought game through four quarters ... For the majority of the game we did a very good job being locked in, holding them to 12 points in the first half."
- Vulin on improved communication within the team: "We have a chance to really go on a run right now, and the only way that's gonna happen is if all five people are communicating along with the bench helping them as much as they can."
- Vulin on Davis' performance: "She is absolutely elite when its 1-on-1. Teams have been trying to double or triple her all year, and she's still been finding a way to score."
- Brianna Davis: "The bigs have been playing better, so [defenses] have been keying in on them and that opens up things for the guards to attack the basket."
- Davis on her ability to make tough shots: "You just gotta have the mindset that nobody can guard you, once I got the hot hand I knew I had to get the ball."
NEXT UP:
Manhattan will continue its 2025-26 campaign on Saturday, January 24 when the Jaspers complete their brief home stand against the Bobcats from Quinnipiac. Action is scheduled to take place from Draddy Gymnasium starting at 2 p.m. and can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
