Spoto, Coia Lead Women's Basketball Past Manhattan, 72-57

Tuesday, November 24

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

4-1, 0-0AE

Manhattan College

1-3, 0-0MAAC

Manhattan

New Hampshire

Photo by: Greg Greene

11/24/2015 9:05:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. -- Stephanie Spoto (Pittsford, N.Y.) set a career-high with 12 points and matched her personal best with eight rebounds, while Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) poured in a game-high 19 points to lead the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team to Tuesday night's 72-57 non-conference victory over Manhattan College at Lundholm Gym.

New Hampshire improves its overall record to 4-1 while Manhattan drops its third straight contest, falling to 1-3.

Coia poured in 6 of 10 shots from the floor and made 7 of 10 free throws. Spoto came off the bench and knocked down 4 of 5 attempts from the floor and drilled 4 of 6 from the free throw line. Sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) registered double digits in the scoring column for the fourth straight game with 10 points. Sophomore guard Aliza Simpson (Londonderry, N.H.) and freshman forward Ashley Storey (Cumberland, Maine) each posted nine points apiece. Storey's scoring effort was a career-high. Sophomore guard Peyton Booth (Wadsworth, Ohio) snagged a personal best eight rebounds.

The Wildcats connected on 22 of 49 (44.9 percent) attempts from the field and 26 of 35 (74.3 percent) from the free throw line. UNH's scoring effort was bolstered by 25 points off the bench. The Wildcats edged out the Jaspers in rebounds (42-39) and points in the paint (34-32). New Hampshire held Manhattan scoreless from beyond the arc on 12 attempts.

Sophomore center Kayla Grimm notched a double-double effort of 10 points and 10 rebounds. She also racked up five blocks in the setback. Sophomore guard Amani Tatum drained 6 of 17 from the floor to register a team-high 15 points.

The Jaspers converted 21 of 65 (32.3 percent) from the floor and 15 of 28 (55.6 percent) from the charity stripe.

New Hampshire and Manhattan traded blows out of the chute as the score was tangled at eight points apiece. The Wildcats jolted ahead by landing nine straight points to lead 17-8 with 2:15 remaining in the quarter. Four different Wildcats posted points in the home team scoring barrage. Kylla Champagne snapped the scoring drought for the Jaspers with a jumper, but Spoto responded immediately with a basket of her own. Taylor Williams added a free throw for the Jaspers late as the Wildcats owned a 19-11 lead after 10 minutes played.

Senior center Crystal Ross opened the scoring in the second stanza for Manhattan with a pair of made free throws. However, the Wildcats upped their lead to double digits as Coia and Booth each notched baskets to lead 23-13 with 7:28 remaining in the quarter. The Jaspers whittled the Wildcats' lead down to five with a 6-3 scoring spurt. Despite the run, UNH closed out the first half with a 7-2 surge. Storey initiated the scoring sequence with a layup. Sophomore guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) followed with a four-point swing powered by a 3-pointer and a made free throw. Coia punctuated UNH's scoring in the frame with a made free throw as the blue and white entered the locker rooms with a 33-23 advantage.

The Wildcats carried their second quarter scoring surge into the third frame, constructing a 12-4 run. Coia notched a three-point play out of the gate, muscling in a layup while fouled. After Coia's free throw, the two sides traded scores as the score increased to 40-27. Scores by Coia and Simpson upped the UNH lead to its largest of the evening as the home team enjoyed a 45-27 advantage with 6:18 left in the third stanza. The Jaspers retaliated with chalking up eight straight points while keeping the 'Cats off the scoreboard for 3 minutes, 22 seconds. However, New Hampshire responded with a flurry of free throws from red shirt freshman guard Emily Peters (Lindstrom, Minn.), Coia and Spoto. Tatum converted a layup to conclude the scoring in the third quarter as the home team held a 52-38 lead.

Manhattan looked to rally entering the final 10 minutes of regulation. Ross and Grimme notched baskets as the duo trimmed UNH's lead down to 10 points. Despite the Jaspers' efforts, the Wildcats maintained their double-cushion for the remainder of the contest. Strong fourth quarter scoring efforts from Spoto (five points), Coia (four points) and Pogue (four points) staved off the comeback and allowed UNH to cement the 72-57 win.

UNH travels to Central Connecticut State for a 1 p.m. game on Sunday, Nov. 29. The Wildcats open a three-game homestand against Northeastern University on Wednesday, Dec. 2 (7 p.m.). For tickets, visit www.unhwildcats.com or call 603-862-4000.

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