RIVERDALE, N.Y. (January 25, 2025) – Mount St. Mary's women's basketball closed out their fifth win in a row with an impressive fourth quarter, scoring 30 points to finish off the Manhattan Jaspers, 80-66.
After an average start on the offensive side, the Mountaineers went 11-for-16 and 5-for-7 from beyond-the-arc in the final frame to clinch the victory.
Jo Raflo led the scoring with 26 points and tied a career best with 11 field goals.
Anna LeMaster found the bottom of the net six times, including five triples, for 17 points.
Nyodie Guerard posted double figures for the first time as a college player with 11 and was crucial down the stretch.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Mount forced 23 Manhattan turnovers while limiting their own giveaways to six. Part of the Jaspers' turnover came off a season-high 15 steals for the Mount.
Mount St. Mary's improves to 8-10 on the season and 6-3 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Manhattan falls to 10-8 (4-5 MAAC). The Mountaineers hold third place in the league, tied with Siena.
It was a tight contest early, with neither side able to build a lead bigger than five points. Manhattan would go up 13-8 in the opening quarter before the Mountaineers rallied. The visitors would take a lead in the second quarter and go up 26-21 on a triple from LeMaster. The Jaspers would rally in turn and take a 30-28 edge into the half off a pair of Tegan Young free throws.
A solid start to the third quarter granted the Mount an eight point lead with
Madison Ruff scoring four consecutive points to go ahead 42-34. Effective three-point shooting allowed Manhattan to rally and take the lead back, but Guerard earned a three and Raflo hit a jumper off a baseline play for a Mountaineers advantage, 50-48, entering the fourth.
Early in the ultimate frame, a 7-0 run paced the Mount. Raflo hit a pair of buckets and LeMaster contributed a trey. Most of the margin was double digits the rest of the period, as the lead rose as high as 16 on two occasions.
Jaedyn Jamison hit the final bucket to punctuate the game.
Beginning Thursday (Jan. 30), Mount St. Mary's starts a two-game homestand. Merrimack is first, followed by Saint Peter's Saturday.
