Box Score RIVERDALE, NY – Sarah Olson (Freehold, NJ/Howell [NJIT]) scored 14 of her game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Monmouth University women's basketball team came back from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to stun Manhattan, 57-56, Thursday evening at Draddy Gym. Two Jasmine McCall (Manalapan, NJ/Manalapan [Seton Hall]) free throws with 9.7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Hawks their first lead since the three-minute mark of the first quarter as the Monmouth improved to 9-15 (7-8 MAAC) with the season sweep of the Jaspers (11-12, 8-6 MAAC). The win was the Hawks' fourth this season and second consecutive when trailing in the final minute of regulation.

Olson also grabbed seven rebounds and made four steals, while McCall finished with 14 points off the bench. Christina Mitchell (Baltimore, MD/MATHS) compiled her fifth double-double of the year with 11 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks. McKinzee Barker (Bomont, WV/Clay County) contributed six points, five rebounds and two assists, while Jasmine Walker (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) chipped in with four points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Shayna Ericksen led Manhattan with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Crystal Ross also reached double figures with 10 points to go along with five rebounds. Amani Tatum and Blake Underhill scored eight points apiece, with Underhill also making four steals and dishing out three assists. Tatum had five steals, all in the first half, while Kayla Grimme grabbed eight boards for the Jaspers.  

“I couldn't be happier and prouder of our team today,” said Monmouth Head Coach Jenny Palmateer. “We showed so much guts in pulling this one out. Nothing came easy for three quarters and then we did what we had to do and were able to pull it out at the end. It's one that shows that we are growing and heading in the right direction.”

After Barker knocked down a jumper to open the scoring, Manhattan scored the next four points. McCall came off the bench to score five straight and give Monmouth a 7-4 lead. Manhattan again scored four-straight points before a McCall free throw tied the game at 8-8. The Jaspers would score the next five points before a fast-break lay-up from Bethune made it 13-10 Manhattan after one.

The teams exchanged buckets to begin the second quarter, before Manhattan went on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to double digits, 26-14, with 4:57 left in the half. But Monmouth outscored the Jaspers, 8-2, over the final four-plus minutes, including the last four points to cut the deficit to 28-22 at the half.

McCall led the Hawks with 10 points in the first half on 4-of-6 shooting. Six other Hawks had two points apiece, with Mitchell grabbing eight rebounds and blocking two shots. Walker also had four rebounds, two assists and a steal for Monmouth. Ross led Manhattan with six points off the bench. Tatum added five points and five steals, while Ericksen contributed four points and six rebounds.

Mitchell got inside for two to open the second-half scoring. But Manhattan immediately responded with a 10-0 run as its lead ballooned to 38-24. Monmouth scored the next five points to cut the Manhattan lead to single digits, but the Jaspers again worked their advantage to 14, 47-33, by the end of the third quarter.

The teams exchanged buckets in the first minute of the fourth quarter, again leaving Manhattan with a 14-point lead. Two Mitchell free throws at the 8:37 mark sparked a 7-0 run to cut the deficit in half and, following three-straight points from Manhattan, Olson hit a three, made a steal and converted a fast-break lay-up to spark another 7-0 run, cutting the Jaspers' lead to 52-49. Underhill pushed it back to a two-possession game with a lay-up while being fouled, but couldn't complete the three-point play. Olson then converted four-straight points from the free-throw line to make it a one-point game, 54-53, with 2:15 left. Ericksen countered with a pair of free throws to push the lead back to three, before Olson got back to line with an even one minute remaining and buried both of her attempts.

The Hawks forced a Taylor Williams miss from three with 50 seconds left, but Underhill was there for an offensive rebound and a fresh shot clock. The Hawks' defense again held, with Olson swooping in for the defensive board of a Grimme miss with 30 seconds remaining. After initially working the ball around on offense, Palmateer called timeout and drew up a play. McCall penetrated and was fouled just inside the three-point arc with Manhattan in the penalty. The senior calmly knocked down both free throws to give Monmouth a 57-56 advantage, its first lead since the three-minute mark of the first quarter.

Manhattan then burned its final timeout to advance the ball. But Underhill missed her attempt at a floater in the lane and Walker grabbed the carom and called timeout to advance the ball with 1.2 seconds remaining. Inbounding the ball in front of its own bench, Monmouth tossed the ball off of a Manhattan player twice to get a second to tick off the clock before handing it to the Jaspers with 0.2 seconds remaining, by rule too little time to get a shot off.

For the game, Monmouth outshot Manhattan, 35.6 percent (21-59) to 32.9 percent (23-70) from the floor, including an 18.8 percent (3-16) to 6.7 percent (1-15) edge from long range and an 80.0 percent (12-15) to 75.0 percent (9-12) discrepancy from the free-throw line. After starting the game 1-of-4 from the line, Monmouth connected on its final 11 attempts at the charity stripe. Manhattan outrebounded the Hawks, 45-41, and took a 16-6 edge in second-chance points. After turning the ball over 19 times through three quarters, Monmouth committed just four turnovers in the fourth quarter, including the inconsequential and intentional final turnover with 0.2 seconds left.     

The Hawks continue their four-game road swing Sunday, when they travel to Fairfield. Tip-off from Alumni Hall is set for 2 p.m.