POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle that spilled into overtime, the Manhattan Lady Jaspers authored a resilient road victory, edging the Marist Red Foxes 66-61 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at McCann Recreation Center.

The game, a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting this season which Marist won by five points, was defined by relentless defensive pressure and critical plays in the extra period. Manhattan, which trailed by as many as nine points in the first quarter, clawed back with a dominant second quarter and then weathered a late Marist rally to force overtime, where its defense became impenetrable.

Marist opened the game with clear intent, racing to a 19-10 lead after the first quarter behind efficient early play from Ciara Croker and Lexie Tarul. The Red Foxes’ offense, however, hit a wall in the second period. Manhattan’s defensive intensity, spearheaded by active hands in the passing lanes, completely stifled the home team. The Lady Jaspers forced eight Marist turnovers in the quarter, converting them into a 23-7 frame that flipped the game and sent Manhattan into halftime with a 33-26 advantage. Elisa Solé Sanchez was instrumental in the surge, hitting multiple three-pointers.

The second half settled into a tense, back-and-forth affair. Marist, led by Croker’s consistent scoring and timely shots from Julia Corsentino, chipped away at the deficit. Manhattan’s offense labored for long stretches, relying heavily on offensive rebounding to create second-chance opportunities. The Lady Jaspers hauled in 15 offensive boards, with Agar Farres Garcia grabbing a game-high six on that end to fuel her team’s effort.

Regulation ended in dramatic fashion. Trailing by three with under 20 seconds to play, Manhattan’s Solé Sanchez drove for a crucial layup to cut the Marist lead to one. After a pair of Lexie Tarul free throws extended the Red Foxes’ lead back to three, Manhattan executed a final play resulting in a Colette Mulderig jump shot to pull within one again. Following a timeout, Marist’s Tarul was fouled and made two clutch free throws with three seconds left, putting her team up 59-56.

Manhattan had one final chance. Inbounding from half-court, the Lady Jaspers found Solé Sanchez, who was fouled on a three-point attempt as time expired. With no time on the clock and the outcome resting on her free throws, the sophomore from Spain calmly sank all three, sending the game to overtime tied at 59 and stunning the home crowd of 767.

The overtime period belonged entirely to Manhattan’s defense. The Lady Jaspers held Marist to just a single field goal attempt in the five-minute extra session, a missed jumper by Ciara Croker. The Red Foxes’ only points came from two Justine Henry free throws. Manhattan, meanwhile, secured the victory at the foul line. Farres Garcia made one of two free throws to give Manhattan the lead for good at 60-59, and after a critical steal by Brianna Davis, Solé Sanchez was fouled and made two more free throws to extend the lead. Farres Garcia and Davis added late free throws to seal the five-point win.

Statistically, the game was won on the margins of hustle and ball security. Manhattan forced 19 Marist turnovers, converting them into 16 steals, while committing only 10 turnovers themselves. The Lady Jaspers also dished out 16 assists to Marist’s 4, illustrating superior ball movement against a stubborn defense.

Solé Sanchez led all scorers with 23 points, including the three pressure-packed free throws to force overtime. Farres Garcia posted a formidable all-around line of 13 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks in 45 minutes, dominating the glass. Hana Mühl directed the offense with 10 assists and added four steals. For Marist, Ciara Croker led the way with 17 points, while Lexie Tarul added 15 and Julia Corsentino provided 11 points off the bench.

The victory improved Manhattan’s season record to 8-18 overall, while Marist fell to 10-18. Both teams continue MAAC play on Thursday, Feb. 26, with Manhattan traveling to face Iona and Marist heading to Saint Peter’s.

The most important part of the game was unquestionably the sequence at the end of regulation. Facing a three-point deficit with mere seconds remaining, Manhattan needed a perfect execution of two high-pressure plays. First, they quickly scored a layup to stay within one possession. Then, after Marist extended the lead back to three, they advanced the ball and drew a foul on a three-point shot as time expired. Elisa Solé Sanchez, with the game literally in her hands and the crowd roaring, stepped to the line and made three consecutive free throws with zeroes on the clock. This ice-cold composure under extreme duress not only saved the game for Manhattan but also irrevocably shifted the momentum, carrying them to a dominant defensive performance in overtime.