PURCHASE, N.Y. – Senior Ashley Franklin (New Haven, Conn./Hill Regional Career) scored a career-high 29 points, but it wasn't enough as the Valiants fell to Norwich University in the championship game of the inaugural Battle of the Castle Tip-Off Tournament 70-65.
 
Manhattanville (1-1 overall) found themselves very evenly matched in the first quarter with Norwich (2-0 overall).  The Valiants found themselves relying on their athleticism to battle against the taller lineup of the Cadets, with each team able to penetrate into the lane and get good looks at the basket.  After the first quarter, Norwich held a slight advantage in points in the paint 14-10. 
 
Franklin began her big day early on, scoring eight points in the first quarter on 3-3 shooting from the floor.  She wasted no time getting started in the second period of play, scoring eight points in the first three minutes of the second quarter, helping to propel Manhattanville to a 19-2 run to build a 17-point lead.
 
The Valiants found themselves in foul trouble early, with sophomore Joiada Darnell (St. Albans, N.Y./Humanities and the Arts), junior Jazmin Pryce (Patterson, N.Y./Brewster) and junior Candice Scott-Mason (Trenton, N.J./Ewing) all being forced to the bench with three fouls in the first half.   Manhattanville looked to its senior backcourt to carry the team into the half, with Ashley Raaf (Rockaway Beach, N.Y./Christ The King) and Bri Pabon (Newington, Conn./Newington) combining for 13 points to compliment Franklin's 18 points in the half. 
 
Norwich came storming out of the gates in the second half, using a 15-3 run to erase the 11-point halftime deficit.  Manhattanville struggled from the floor in the quarter, shooting just 23 percent from the field on 4-17 shooting.  It was Franklin once again with a big basket with 1:11 to play in the quarter to give the Valiants the lead once again.  After Norwich split a pair of free throws on the offensive end, Pabon hit a big three-pointer as time was winding down in the quarter to give Manhattanville a four-point lead heading into the final quarter. 
 
The Cadets once again came out of the gates with authority in the fourth quarter, going on a 15-2 run to take a nine-point lead with just under five minutes to play.  The Valiants cut into the lead with baskets from Franklin and Raaf, but the Cadets got a big basket of their own from tournament MVP Heather LeBlanc to keep the lead at seven.  After a Fraklin layup, LeBlanc was able to get into the lane for another huge basket and put the game out of reach for good. 
 
With the win Norwich University captured the championship in the inaugural Battle of the Castle Tip-Off Tournament, with Manhattanville taking home second-place.  Franklin's career performance earned her a spot on the All-Tournament team, along with Washington College's Ali Grundy, Keuka College's Katie Stuart, and Norwich's Arianna Harrison. 
 
The Valiants return to action Thursday when they play host to Mount St. Mary.  Tip-off at Kennedy Gymnasium is scheduled for 6:00 P.M.