Boxscore

PURCHASE, N.Y. –  Junior Courtney Turner (Staten Island, N.Y./Ralph McKee) and sophomore Jen McSharar (Garnerville, N.Y./North Rockland) led the Valiants with 11 points each, as the Manhattanville women's basketball team continued its strong finish to the regular season with a 59-42 victory over Eastern University on Saturday afternoon on Think Pink Day at Kennedy Gym.

Both teams had a hard time controlling the ball as a combined 63 turnovers were committed by both sides. The Valiant defense was in high gear, allowing just 30 shots by the opposition and recording 23 steals. Although the Eagles made half of their shots, it was their 37 turnovers and lack of penetration through the Valiant frontcourt that hurt their chances in the game.

The first half was relatively even, with four ties and four lead changes. The Eagles held an early lead off a 9-2 run to begin the contest. The Eagles took their largest lead of the game with an eight-point edge on a layup by Katie Lincoln with 14:45 remaining, but the Valiants battled back with an 8-0 run to tie the game, 13-13, off a long-distance shot by sophomore Janetta Arnold (Windsor, Conn./Suffield Academy).

Over the next seven minutes, both squads traded baskets until the Valiants broke a 20-20 tie and went on a 15-0 run to end the half with big baskets from sophomore Taylor Wilson (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) and McSharar to give the Valiants a double-digit lead. Turner led all scorers after the first half with nine points. The Valiants shot 41 percent from the field and grabbed 17 rebounds, while forcing 21 turnovers in 20 minutes.

The Valiants continued to pressure the Eagles in the second half and jumped out to a 21-point lead with 13:16 remaining on an Arnold layup. The Valiant offense, which shot just 29 percent in the final half, was not needed due to the near 20-point lead late, but the Eagles used 40 percent field goal shooting in the half to attempt a comeback. However, turnovers hurt them again, committing 16 errors in the final stanza.

For the Eagles, Bekah Roland led her team with 16 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, but also had a team-high 11 turnovers. Katie Lincoln finished with 15 points and was a threat from the outside connecting on 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

With the victory, Manhattanville (15-8, 8-4 Freedom) increases their odds at a spot in the 2011 women's basketball tournament, as the Valiants currently sit in a three-way tie for second place with DeSales and King's (Pa.) with two games remaining. The Valiants will return to the court on Tuesday evening at Delaware Valley at 6 p.m.