FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Erasing a 12-point deficit in a hostile environment, the Manhattanville University women's basketball team earned a split of the regular season series with Farmingdale State on Saturday afternoon, besting the Rams 66-61. The Valiant victory has Manhattanville ending the week with a 10-4 mark overall and improving to 7-3 in the Skyline, as Farmingdale falls to 10-6 overall (7-4 Skyline).

After being held to just seven points per game over her last four outings, Esther Ramos (Queens, N.Y./Forest Hills) carved her way through Farmingdale's defense for a career-high 26 points. The junior shot 10-of-14 from the field and hit five of her six free throw attempts to lead the charge. Ramos also led Manhattanville in the rebound department, pulling down seven boards.

Kathleen O'Mara (Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman) also had a career-high offensive output with the rookie going for 14. O'Mara converted on four close-range shots while sinking six of her eight free throw tries. The freshman was also a presence on the glass with six boards, adding a pair of blocks and a steal.

Gabby Tucker (Port Chester, N.Y./Blind Brook) capped off a fine week with a nine point, five rebound, five assist, three steal, one block effort. The junior led the Valiants in takeaways and helpers, while her point production was matched by Julie Debrocky (Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac) who hit her lone three-pointer along with all six of her free throws.

Niyona Smith (Baltimore, MD/Concordia Prep) blocked four shots and pulled down four rebounds as she helped deny Farmingdale's looks at the basket and second-chance opportunities. 

Manhattanville was more accurate in the opening quarter, shooting at a .462 rate over the first ten minutes, yet it would be the Rams taking the lead as the horn sounded. After Smith tied the game at 10-10 with a layup with three minutes left to go, Alexandria Walbroehl hit a pair of free throws and a jumper to begin a 10-3 run for the home side as Farmingdale led 20-13 at the first intermission.

The Valiants got back within two over the first two and a half minutes of the second quarter before Erin Conte and Gemma Pohalski hit back-to-back layups to give the Rams some breathing room. Both offenses that went into a cold spell, with just one basket--an O'Mara jumper--being scored over the next two and a half minutes. Pohalski got the Ram offense back on track with a layup as Farmingdale would outscore Manhattanville 8-4 over the closing four minutes of the half to take a 35-27 lead.

Farmingdale looked to put the game out of reach right out of the break as opening baskets from Conte and Walbroehl had the Rams up by 12 two minutes into the half. The Valiants responded to the largest deficit of the game with a 9-0 run to get back within a single possession. Pohalski snapped the Valiant run with a layup, but a Ramos three pointer and pair of free throws from Tucker completed the comeback and tied things up at 41-41. Farmingdale regained the lead with an Isabella Greenwald three and an Walbroehl jumper, but Tucker drilled a three-pointer in Manhattanville's final possession of the quarter, trailing 48-46 with ten minutes left to determine a victor. 

Ramos delivered the only two baskets of the first 3:49 of the fourth to put Manhattanville in front for the first time all day. The Valiants seized the moment and would not trailed for the remainder of play. The Rams pulled even on a pair of Taneece Wooden free throws before an O'Mara layup and pair of Orlando free throws firmly placed the lead in Manhattanville's hands. The Valiants got the job done at the free throw line, hittign 12 of their 14 attempts in the closing stanza to head home from Long Island as winners. 

Manhattanville's win further congests the standings in the Skyline, with four teams all within one game of each other for second place. While Merchant Marine remains the top dogs with a 11-0 mark in conference play, the Valiants now trail Saint Joseph's Long Island (8-2 Skyline) and Mount Saint Mary (8-3) by one game in the win column. Manhattanville leapfrogged the Rams in the standings by virtue of Saturday's win.

Up Next
The Valiants close out the three-game road trip on Wednesday in Bronxville, taking on Sarah Lawrence at 7 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