RIVERDALE, N.Y. – The Manhattan Jaspers women's basketball team (9-18, 9-9 MAAC), led by 51 combined points from Brianna Davis (28) and Elisa Solé Sanchez (23), became winners of four straight games for the first time this season, this time against the Warriors from Merrimack (16-11, 13-5 MAAC) by a final score of 82-67 inside Draddy Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Who else but Davis to get things started, connecting on a shot from beyond the arc to get the scoring underway.
- Her second three pointer upped her scoring total to eight out of the first 11 Jasper points.
- Stretching their lead to seven at one point, the Warriors finished the quarter on a 17-6 run to give the visitors a four point edge after the first ten minutes.
- Colette Mulderig and Solé Sanchez contributed in the scoring column in the second frame, as Merrimack extended their advantage to nine with 1:44 to play in the half.
- Hana Mühl converted on a pair from the free throw line, trimming the margin to six by the halftime break.
- While another inside layup from Davis got the game back to within four to start the quarter, the Warriors further emboldened their lead, at one point getting to 12 with around 3:30 left in the third.
- Mühl, Davis, and Solé Sanchez combined for 11 points the rest of the way, going in to the fourth with only a five point deficit.
- Tatianna Collins and Mühl connected on their layups in consecutive possessions, as the Jaspers tied the game with 7:36 to play for the first time since the first quarter.
- A successful and-one opportunity from Davis capped off a 12-0 run from Manhattan, now giving the hosts a seven point lead with six and a half to play.
- Merrimack didn't let the Jaspers off easy, as Madison Roman's own three point play put the game back within two with three minutes to go.
- After getting back up to a six point edge, Mühl found Solé Sanchez in the corner after pulling the defense into the paint, and the Spanaird knocked down her third and most important shot from deep, cementing Manhattan's fourth consecutive win.
STATS AND NOTES
- Head Coach Heather Vulin became the all-time leader in wins throughout Manhattan Women's Basketball history, as her 139th win today surpassed former head coach Kathy Solano (1983-92) who retired with 138.
- Today's win also clinched the Jaspers' spot in the 2026 MAAC Women's Basketball Championship in Atlantic City, N.J..
- Senior guard Brianna Davis tied her career-high for the third time this season with 28 points, shooting nine-for-17 from the field. The Bronx, N.Y. native also swiped four balls today, another season-high tie.
- Graduate guard Elisa Solé Sanchez tied her season-high from last game against Marist with 23 points, converting on all six of her chances from the free throw line.
- Senior guard Hana Mühl filled up the box score in a variety of ways, tying her season-high of 14 points as well, as well as contributing eight assists and rebounds.
- Graduate forward Agar Farrés Garcia led the team in rebounds with 12, her fourth consecutive game with at least 10 boards.
- The Jaspers set new season-highs as a team this afternoon, with 82 points beating their previous best by eight, and their 24 made free throws going past their previous high of 19.
- Manhattan shot at its best rate in the final quarter, with a 59% clip.
QUOTES FROM THE JASPERS:
- Head Coach Heather Vulin: "I thought we showed some toughness ... I had to get in on them at halftime, and they responded, they fought. We won in a different way than we normally do, and to drop 82 is special for our program."
- Vulin on the game being a team win: "Credit to Tati[ianna Collins] coming in when Colette [Mulderig] got into foul trouble. I thought she was an absolute difference maker when we did the press. All five kids out there were phenomanal."
- Senior guard Brianna Davis: "I was just thinking we let too many games slip away from us, we just had to get this win to get a good spot for the playoffs."
- Davis on her defensive game: "I always value defense first, I always let offense come to me after."
- Davis on the team's postseason outlook: "I feel like we got our momentum back, we're ready."
NEXT UP:
Manhattan will continue its 2025-26 campaign on Thursday, February 26 when the Jaspers go on the road one last time to take on the Gaels from Iona. Action is scheduled to take place from Hynes Athletic Center starting at 6 p.m. and can be viewed on ESPN+ with a paid subscription.
