HACKENSACK, N.J. – The Manhattan Jaspers women's basketball team (1-3), anchored by 36 combined points from Olivia Grgicevich Lassey and Taylah Murtagh, fell just shy of a late comeback against the Knights from FDU (2-2) by a final score of 58-55 inside Bogota Savings Bank Center on Thursday evening. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Murtagh knocked down the second deep shot within four minutes after Lassey opened up the scoring. 
• The former knocked down a pair of free throws to cut the margin down to seven before the opening quarter came to a close. 
• It was Murtagh once again scoring the first five points in the second stanza, as Lassey hit a layup with a little over a minute to go until the half as the Jaspers trailed by 16. 
• A trio of Amanda Baumgarte, Ana Zesati, and Celeste Harper each converted their opportunities to kick off the third, with Harper hitting a three-pointer of her own. 
• While FDU kept their separation in time for the end of the third, many members of the Green and White offense began to get involved, even while down 14. 
• Lassey scored the seven of the first nine points in the last quarter, four of which came from the free throw stripe. 
• In an 80 second stretch, Murtagh hit two shots from range to slim down FDU's advantage to three with 3:12 showing on the clock. 
• Each side continued trading baskets until Cortney Howell's layup with 40 seconds to go put the score at 58-55 in favor of the hosts.
• Despite getting a good final look with the same score, Harper was not able to connect for the game-tying score, giving the Knights a narrow victory. 

STATS AND NOTES

• Junior guard Olivia Grgicevich Lassey scored a new Division I-high 20 points on seven-for-11 shooting. The New Zealand native also recorded two steals and pulled down five boards
• Junior guard Taylah Murtagh followed behind her with 16 on the scoreboard, shooting four-for-five from beyond the arc. 
• Junior forward Amanda Baumgarte led the team in boards with seven. 
• Sophomore guard Celeste Harper swiped three balls, most amongst her teammates.
• Manhattan shot at its best rate in the final quarter, with a 58.3% clip. 

NEXT UP:

Head Coach Heather Vulin and the Jaspers will continue their 2026-27 campaign on Sunday, November 15, when they return home for the 57th Battle of the Bronx against Fordham with a t-shirt giveaway. Tip-off from Draddy Gymnasium is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., and can be streamed live on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.