Brianna Davis led the Manhattan Jaspers to a 68-55 victory over Canisius in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game on Saturday at Draddy Gymnasium in Riverdale, New York. Davis scored a game-high 28 points, contributing significantly to the Jaspers’ triumph.
Alongside Davis, Manhattan saw notable performances from Franka Wittenberg, who contributed 14 points, and junior Shariah Gailes, who recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. This marks the second consecutive game where Gailes has secured 13 rebounds, having done so against Iona just a few days prior. For Canisius, senior player also led with 14 points, but the team couldn’t keep pace with the Jaspers, who improved to a record of 7-18 overall and 7-9 in the conference. Conversely, Canisius fell to 4-21 with a 2-14 record in league play.
The game began with Yasmine Djibril hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, narrowing Manhattan’s lead to 18-10 by the end of the first quarter. Canisius briefly trimmed the score to 29-24 in the second quarter, but Davis’s scoring flurry in the final moments of the half propelled Manhattan to a 39-25 lead at halftime.
Coming out of the break, Gailes attempted to rally the Blue and Gold, scoring the first four points of the third quarter. However, Manhattan quickly responded, extending their lead to 47-31. The Jaspers maintained a double-digit advantage for much of the second half, which swelled to as much as 17 points. Canisius made a late push with a 10-2 run to cut the deficit to just nine points at 64-55 with 2:39 remaining, but Manhattan closed the game strong, scoring the final four points to secure the win.
Notably, Canisius out-rebounded Manhattan 37-35, with 15 offensive boards, showcasing their resilience despite the loss. Djibril stood out defensively as well, leading the team with three steals.
This matchup marked the 76th meeting between Canisius and Manhattan in series history. Looking ahead, Canisius is set to return home to face Rider on February 21, with the game scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. tip-off at the Koessler Athletic Center, which will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Tickets are available for purchase online or at the ticket office.