RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey) had a team-high 21 points, nine rebounds and five assists, but the Monmouth University women's basketball team fell to Manhattan, 65-59, Tuesday afternoon at Draddy Gym. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 1-12 (0-2 MAAC), while the Jaspers improve to 3-8 (2-0 MAAC).

Jasmine Walker (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) added 10 points, four rebounds and three steals for Monmouth, while Shira Shecht (Pardessiya, Israel/Hadassim) had nine points. The Hawks outshot Manhattan, 48.9 percent (22-45) to 43.8 percent (21-48) from the floor and 28.6 percent (4-14) to 27.3 percent (6-22) from long range, and outrebounded the Jaspers, 34-25. But Monmouth was plagued by a -9 turnover margin, 24-15. Manhattan took a 25-14 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Jaspers were led by Shayna Ericksen, who had a game-high 24 points and five steals to go along with seven rebounds. Ericksen was 8-of-9 from the floor and 8-for-10 from the free-throw line. Nicole Isaacs added nine points, five assists and three steals, while Monica Roeder chipped in with eight points and three steals. Allison Skrec also scored seven points, dished out five assists and made three steals for Manhattan.

“The same things that have haunted us the whole start of the season are the things that buried us today,” said Monmouth Head Coach Jenny Palmateer. “We shot 48 percent from the foul line and we turned the ball over 24 times. We're not a team that can do that. The hard part is that they come at really critical times. Key possessions; they're the free throws that can cut it to four, cut it to two or even tie a game. They're key turnovers, where we get the stop we need, but can't convert on the offensive end. That's really frustrating and I think the team knows that. The hard part is keeping our confidence, knowing that we do a lot of really good things. And we're a really young team. It's going to take some time to iron out some of that stuff. But we know we have to keep playing better. Our goal has to be to play more quality minutes per 40. We're just not playing enough quality minutes right now.”   

Manhattan opened play with the clear intent to shoot from long range, with Isaacs knocking down a second-chance three-pointer on Manhattan's initial possession. The Jaspers would go on to hit six first-half three-pointers on 16 attempts. Monmouth kept things close in the early going, thanks primarily to Paalvast. The senior wing scored the Hawks' first 12 points. Monmouth took its first lead of the game on a Walker transition bucket and built an 18-15 cushion on a Jamiyah Bethune (Union, N.J./Union [Penn State]) bucket at the 8:47 mark. But Manhattan went on a 12-0 run and outscored the Hawks, 23-7, over the final 8:25 of the initial stanza.

Paalvast led the Hawks with 12 points at the half on 5-of-7 shooting to go along with four rebounds and three assists in the first half. Walker added five points, four rebounds and three steals. Ericksen led Manhattan with 13 points, four rebounds and two steals. Isaacs added nine points on 3-of-9 shooting from long range, while Katie Reese chipped in with eight points, including a pair of three-pointers. Skrec and Isaacs also dished out four assists apiece. Manhattan turned 11 first-half turnovers by Monmouth into a 17-7 edge in points off turnovers.

Monmouth gradually whittled the deficit down to four points in the second half on Walker's three-pointer with 2:17 left to play. But missed Monmouth free throws and made Manhattan attempts from the charity stripe kept the Jaspers ahead by multiple possessions the rest of the way.

The Hawks were plagued by 47.8 percent (11-23) free-throw shooting on the afternoon, while Manhattan shot 70.8 percent (17-24) from the charity stripe.

The Hawks return to MAAC action Friday, when they play host to Fairfield. Opening tip from the Multipurpose Activity Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.