The Basics
Final Score: Detroit Mercy 58, Manhattan 56
Records: Detroit Mercy 2-4, Manhattan 1-4
Location: Riverdale, N.Y. (Draddy Gymnasium)
RIVERDALE, N.Y. (11/24/2018) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball team out-scored Manhattan 50-37 after the first quarter and shut down the Jaspers in the fourth quarter in a 58-56 thrilling, come-from-behind victory on the road Saturday afternoon. The game was played in front of 306 fans, including a large contingency of Titan supporters.
After falling behind by double digits in the first quarter, Detroit Mercy (2-4) fought back in the final three quarters to earn the victory. The Titans scored 22 points in the second quarter to pull within one, 31-30, at the halftime break. Sophomore
Lexey Tobel scored 12 of her game-high 19 points in the second quarter.
The two squads battled the rest of the way, with the Titans taking their first lead since the first bucket of the contest, 53-51, with 3:20 remaining. After Manhattan re-gained the lead 54-53, junior
Zoey Oatis countered with a lay-up off the fast break to again go ahead, 55-54, with 2:07 left. After a defensive board, Tobel was fouled and converted at the free throw line, connecting on both shots to earn a three-point lead, 57-54.
After the Detroit Mercy defense again forced a Manhattan miss, senior guard
Brittney Jackson was fouled and sank 1-of-2 from the line as the Titans had a 58-54 edge with 1:15 on the clock. The Jaspers scored with 47 seconds remaining and after a Detroit Mercy shot clock violation, the Jaspers got the ball back. Oatis committed the Titans' third foul in the quarter to break up the play with eight seconds left.
Manhattan had one final look, but the Titan defense forced the Jaspers to heave up a deep, desperation 3-pointer that fell short of the rim as the final buzzer rang.
Manhattan made two of its final eight shots and just one of the final four as the Titan defense stood tall in the fourth quarter. Overall in the fourth, Manhattan shot 21 percent (3-of-14). The Titans shot 47 percent in the contest, including 5-of-10 from behind the 3-point arc. Detroit Mercy had 10 steals and forced 24 Manhattan turnovers.
Tobel led the Titans with 19 points, adding three steals and connecting on 3-of-4 triples and 6-of-7 free throws. Oatis added 15 points, sinking 7-of-12 shots and adding five boards and two steals. Titan freshman guard
Jess Bicknell posted her second career double-figure scoring game with 12 points. Senior guard
Brittney Jackson added six points and a team-best three assists, while freshman
Paige Bellman had a team-high seven boards.
Both teams scored 26 points in the paint and connected on five 3-pointers. The Titans were 13-of-23 from the free throw line.
Titan News & Notes
• Detroit Mercy shot a season-best 47.6 percent from the floor, shooting 40 percent or better for the third-straight game.
• It was the second 10-plus steal game of the season for the Titans.
• The Titans held Manhattan to 56 points, the fourth game this season they've limited an opponent to 60 points or less.
• Tobel led the Titans in scoring for the third time this season with her game-best 19.
• Bicknell has two double-figure scoring efforts in her past three games and is averaging 11.0 points in the past three.
• Oatis has multiple steals in three contest in 2018-19 and her 15 points were one shy of her season-high.
• Titan senior guard
Brittney Jackson is from nearby Brooklyn, N.Y. and had a large contingency of supporters at the contest.
• It was the first meeting in women's basketball between the Titans and Jaspers.
Up Next
Detroit Mercy plays at home in its next contest, hosting Omaha for its fourth annual Field Trip Day on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 11 a.m. Admission is free for all from Calihan Hall in Detroit and the game is set to be streamed live via ESPN+ with a monthly subscription fee.
