By, Stephen Glassman
Led by sophomore forward Indya Lucas’ (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep Charter) 21 points and freshman guard Brittnay Smith’s (Camden, NJ/Pennsauken) 19, the Manor College Blue Jays (11-7, 8-5 Region XIX Division II) defeated the Salem Community College Oaks (10-10, 7-5), 81-72. Manor’s victory sweeps the regular season series versus Salem.
Freshman forward Kira Ogden (Philadelphia, PA/Cheltenham) opened the scoring for Manor on a layup with 19:54 remaining and never looked back the remainder of the game. The closest that the Oaks came to the Blue Jays in the first half was 4-3, on a free throw with 16:24 remaining. Manor scored 11 straight points until Salem scored on three-point basket with 14:04 left. The Blue Jays built a double-digit lead that reached as much as sixteen (35-19) when Lucas sank a three-point basket with 7:34 remaining and forced Salem to call a time out. Sophomore center Tyshay Britten’s (Norristown, PA/Norristown) basket increased Manor’s lead to its biggest lead of the first half, 40-21, with 5:40 remaining The Oaks finished the half on a 15-6 run that cumulated with a pair of free throws by sophomore guard Marisa Marchegiano with 11.0 left in the half. The Blue Jays led 46-36 at halftime.
Manor opened the second half on a 7-2 run and built the lead to 53-38 with 17:06 left in the game. The run was capped off by a Lucas layup. However, Salem closed the gap to nine points, 58-49, when Marchegiano scored on a layup with 12:01 remaining. On the ensuing possession, freshman Morgan Matynka’s (Lebanon, PA/Cedar Crest) layup and free throw with 11:44 left opened the lead back to 61-49. Matynka’s points started 13-2 run for Manor over the next four minutes and increased the lead to its biggest of game, 71-51, with 7:36 remaining and forced Salem to use another timeout. Following the timeout, Oaks went on a 18-4 run of their own over the next 6:03 that cumulated in freshman guard Jasmine Foster’s layup with 1:33 left that narrowed Manor’s lead to six (75-69) and forced the Blue Jays to use a time out. Free throws by Odgen (1:07), a layup off of a steal by Smith (about 0:51) and Lucas’ free throws with 12.8 seconds left in the game closed out the scoring for Manor.
The Blue Jays have won four of its last five and five of seven games overall and in Region XIX Division II action. They are also a season-high four games over 0.500 overall and in Region XIX Division II play.
Manor’s next game will be versus the Lackawanna College Falcons (15-6, 10-3) in Scranton, PA at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday February 8. The Falcons defeated the Blue Jays, 62-56, in its previous meeting on November 23, 2013. The Blue Jays’ three of its final four regular season games will be on the road. Manor’s final regular season home game is against the Essex County College Wolverines on Saturday February 15 at 1:00 p.m.