The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team won a second-consecutive, one-point game on its home floor, besting visiting Manhattan College, 60-59, Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Rothman Center in Hackensack, NJ.
Sophomore forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) registered her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds, as the Knights improved to 3-6 overall. Senior forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD/Westminster) (Westminster, MD/Westminster) tallied 24 points and seven rebounds.
Walkling spun off the block for a deuce, giving the Knights their first lead of the afternoon, 5-4, at the 16:31 mark. Manhattan (6-4) responded on its ensuing trip down the hardwood, as junior guard Gabrielle Cottrell (Arlington Heights, IL/Prospect) pulled up for three.
The Jaspers opened up a five-point advantage before freshman guard Jasmyra Saunders (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Catholic) (Trenton, NJ/Trenton Catholic) went coast-to-coast, popping a runner in the paint with 7:09 remaining. Freshman backcourt mate Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) knotted the contest, 24-24, with a trey with 5:15 left.
Once again, Manhattan answered, as sophomore guard Annie McIntyre (Portland, OR/Central Catholic) netted a three-ball from the left wing. On the following possession, the Jaspers went up, 29-24, with junior guard Aubrie Dellinger (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) connecting from behind the arc.
The Knights hit the break, trailing, 31-26, as Manhattan concluded the initial 20 minutes on a 7-2 push. Freshman guard Michelle Pacheco (Bronx, NY/John F Kennedy) paced the Jaspers with nine points. Walkling countered with six points, with Altamirano tallying six boards.
FDU's defense locked down to being the second-half, only allowing one field goal in a span of 8:32. Saunders fed Walking at the 13:07 mark for a jumper slightly inside the arc, creating a 33-31 deficit.
Manhattan went up seven when Walkling halted a 5-0 run with a drop-step bucket off glass. Mayrose then dished to senior guard Shanay Freeman (Laurelton, NY/Towsend Harris) (Laurelton, NY/Towsend Harris) who connected from downtown. FDU drew within two, 40-38, on the ensuing possession, as the freshman fed the senior for a spot up with 9:03 left.
Fairleigh Dickinson was down, 41-40, after junior guard Nasim Ahmadzadeh (Uppsala, Sweden/Lofstromsgymnasium) (Uppsala, Sweden/Lofstromgymnasium/Frank Phillips College) popped a trifecta with 8:33 remaining. However, the visiting squad ran off six-straight.
Walkling banked a lay-in, despite being hacked. Senior center Mercedez Walker (Stratford, CT/Bunnell) (Stratford, CT/Bunnell) tracked down the carom on Walkling's miss at the charity stripe and fed Walkling who was fouled again. Walkling missed the back end, with Altamirano grabbing the rebound. Walkling went to the line on a third occasion ? again hitting 1-of-2. Walkling then dropped in a hoop at the 2:05 mark, ultimately creating a 50-50 count.
Jaspers' sophomore forward Caitlin Flood (Blairstown, NJ/North Warren Regional) made good on two chances at the free throw line. Altamirano dished to Walkling in the post for two points with 25 seconds remaining. The score stayed at 52-52 at the end of regulation.
FDU scored the first four points of OT, en route to out-scoring Manhattan, 8-7, in overtime. Pacheco put the Jaspers ahead, 59-28, with 47 seconds left. She notched a steal at the top of the key and finished at the other end, en route to an old-fashioned, three-point play
The Knights regained the advantage, 60-59, with Altamirano gaining position down low and using the backboard for two.
“We played a very gritty game and earned a tough, come-from-behind win,” Head Coach Peter Cinella said. “Our defense didn't give in and played strong. We did a great job on the boards, and if we can cut down on our turnovers, we'll continue pushing to become a better team.”
The Jaspers shot 16% from three-point land and 28% overall. Flood posted 18 points (12 at the line) and nine rebounds. Pachecho contributed 13 points and Dellinger 11.
Walker grabbed eight boards for the Knights, with Freeman adding seven points and five rebounds. In a career-high 34 minutes, Ahmadzadeh scored a career-best seven points. Walkling ? who logged a career-high 43 minutes of court time ? combined with Altamirano for seven assists. The Knights finished with a 50-37 advantage on the glass.
Fairleigh Dickinson hosts St. Bonaventure University at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 20.
