Box Score

PURCHASE, N.Y.- Manhattanville women's basketball junior Olivia Nastasi (Cold Spring, N.Y.) scored a game-high 16 points and sank two free throws in the last 20 seconds to seal a 56-52 Valiant victory in a Wednesday matinee at Kennedy Gymnasium against Nichols College. The Bison fall to 6-3 with the loss while Manhattanville improves to 5-3.

Kaliegh Lussier (Albany, N.Y.) drained a jumper in the lane with 1:03 remaining in the second half to put the Valiants up by two.  After a time out by Nichols, Bison junior guard MaryLynn Skarzenski (Woodbridge, N.J.) missed a shot in the paint and a Bison foul put Nastasi at the line for a one-and-one.  After Nastasi drained both shots, senior Kristina Weasel (Wakefield, R.I.) miss-fired a three, and Carey Hickey (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) grabbed the final rebound.

Nastasi added eight rebounds for the Valiants and improved her scoring average to 10.7 points per game.  The 5'5” guard made two shots from beyond the arc to jump past Denise Strehle '98 for fourth all-time in three pointers made.

Lauren Grenier (Oxford, Mass.) made the most of her first start of the season and pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds, helping a shorter Valiant team out-rebound Nichols 41-32.  Kaitlin Degnan (Irvington, N.Y. ) also made her first start of the season and pulled down four boards in addition to a career-high eight points.

The Bison shot 34.9% from the field in the game as their starters shot a combined 15-for-38.  Sophomore Curtia Humbert (Bridgeport, Conn.) led Nichols with 12 points and two assists. She was joined by freshman Jessica Nelson (North Providence, R.I.) and sophomore Margaret Lilly (Ashfield, Mass.) in double figures as the duo posted ten points each. Lilly added six rebounds as well while Skarzenski finished with nine points, seven rebounds and six steals.

The Valiants go on the road this weekend for the Marymount University Holiday Classic.  Nichols will play at Johnson & Wales this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Release courtesy of Manhattanville Sports Information