MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville University women's basketball team passed its first road test of the season, heading back home with a 55-36 win in tow from SUNY Morrisville. The Valiants are 2-0 to begin the young season, while the Mustangs drop to 2-1.

The Valiants only had seven players step on the court on Friday night, but it was more than enough as Manhattanville shot 40 percent from the floor. All five starters played more than 32 minutes, with three reaching double figures offensively. The scoring output was led by Niyona Smith (Baltimore, MD/Concordia Prep) as the senior shot 60 percent from the field en route to her 12 point output. Kathleen O'Mara (Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman) and Esther Ramos (Queens, N.Y./Forest Hills) both poured in 10 points, with O'Mara going 4-for-6 at the free throw line while Ramos shot at a 50 percent clip.

The leading scoring trio also paced Manhattanville of the glass, accounting for 21 of the Valiants' 37 rebounds. O'Mara finished with eight boards, while Smith and Ramos pulled down seven and six caroms, respectively.

O'Mara's four steals led the team for a second-straight outing to begin the season, while Ramos dished out a leading five assists. Smith and Gabby Tucker (Port Chester, N.Y./Blind Brook) both handed out three helpers.

A tightly-contested first quarter never saw a lead larger than three points on either side of the scoreboard. Anyssia Ingersoll drilled a three-pointer for Morrisville's opening basket 11 seconds in. Manhattanville would take its first lead following back-to-back buckets by Tucker and O'Mara with 5:19 left in the opening quarter, putting the visitors up 7-6. The teams totaled just two field goals and six total points over the final five minutes of the quarter, with Morrisville nursing a 10-9 lead.

After the sluggish start, the Valiants shot 50 percent in the second quarter, outscoring the Mustangs 17-5 to take control of the game. After Ingersoll put the Mustangs up by two with her second three of the game, Julie Debrocky (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) responded with a deep ball of her own to begin a 15-2 run over the final 6:13 of the half to erupt to a 26-15 lead.

The Mustangs fared significnalty better after the halftime adjustments, but were only able to chop two points off the deficit by the end of the third. Kaitlyn Mangan (New Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield) put the Valiants up by 14 at the 6:20 mark with a jumper before Morrisville went on a 6-0 run to get back within single digits. Madison Carlo (Carmel, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) responded with the Valiants' second and final three pointer of the game with 2:36 left in the quarter to put the Valiants back in front by 11, but a pair of Abbie Platt free throws in the final second of the quarter for Morrisville brough the score to 39-30 with ten minutes to play.

As was the case with the end of the first half, the Valiants took over to put the game to bed, outscoring the Mustangs 16-6. After Jakeira Stackhouse hit an opening layup for the Mustangs, the Valiants went on a 9-0 run capped by a Debrocky layup to put the Valiants comfortably ahead 48-32 with five minutes to go. Manhattanville closed out the night with the final three baskets, polishing off the 55-36 victory.

Up Next
The Valiants open up conference play next Saturday in a rematch of last year's Skyline Conference Championship finals. Manhattanville hosts Mount Saint Vincent at 1 p.m.

VALIANTS on SOCIAL MEDIA For the latest on Manhattanville Athletics, follow the Valiants via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads and YouTube. #WeAreValiant #GoValiants