News Release

Purchase, NY — The Manhattanville Valiants could not keep their 2-game winning streak going as they fell to the first place Mount Saint Mary Blue Knights 69-55 in women’s basketball. Mount Saint Mary’s LaSheena Brown led all scorers with 15 points.

The Valiants fall to 7-15 overall and 5-8 in the Skyline Conference with only three conference games remaining. The Blue Knights improve to 16-3 and 9-1 in conference.

Despite placing three players in double figures, Manhattanville could not overcome a 23-point deficit in the second half. Freshman Cyntrell Robinson (New Haven, Conn.) led the Valiants with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Mount Saint Mary was looking for revenge. Earlier in the season on December 6, the Valiants went on the road and knocked off the Blue Knights 61-58 handing them just their second loss ever in the Skyline Conference. They were not about to let that happen again.

In the first half, the visitor jumped out to an early lead and continued to build on it throughout the half. Manhattanville was held to only 19 points, shooting 27.3% from the field and going 1-for-7 from behind the arc. On the other end, Mount Saint Mary shot 37.1% from the field and went 4-for-11 from three-point range to head into halftime with a 33-19 lead.

The Blue Knights opened up the second half on a 15-6 run to take their biggest lead of the game 48-25 with 15:47 to play. But the Valiants would not give up and would respond with a run of their own. Manhattanville would score 24 points while holding Mount Saint Mary to 6, to cut the Blue Knight lead to seven, 54-47 with 8:40 to play.

Unfortunately, this was the closest the Valiants would get. Mount Saint Mary’s Vanessa Lawson would hit a three to put the visitors ahead by ten and Manhattanville could not get any closer.

In the second half, Manhattanville went 0-for-3 from three-point range, shooting just 10% from behind the arc for the game. The Blue Knights would knock down eight three-pointers, and shot 9-for-10 from the free throw line.

Janice Kane (Vernon, Conn.) and Olivia Nastasi (Cold Spring, N.Y.) were the other two Valiants to reach double-figures. Kane contributed 12 points and six rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench, while Nastasi would add 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists with no turnovers.

Mount Saint Mary (16-3) out-rebounded the Valiants 41-39 and forced 14 Manhattanville turnovers. The Blue Knights turned it over just 10 times themselves. Chantel Anthony had 13 points for Mount Saint Mary.

The Valiants (7-15) will return to action on Saturday as they travel to face the Merchant Marine Academy at 7 p.m. They will then close out their regular season as they host Farmingdale State on Feb.10 at 12 p.m. and then Centenary on Feb. 14 at 6 p.m.

MANHATTANVILLE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL – The Valiants fell to the first place Mount Saint Mary Blue Knights 69-55 at Kennedy Gym in Purchase, N.Y. For more information, contact Andy Viano at (219) 677-2299.