By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
November 29, 2016
JENKINTOWN, PA—Harcum College (6-4 Overall, 3-0 NJCAA Region XIX Division II) guards Jayana Ervin (freshman) and Lauren Chambers (sophomore) scored 21 points each as they came back to spoil Manor College's (3-4, 3-3) home opener, 92-85.
Manor took an early lead, 7-6, on sophomore center Etreece Adams' (Philadelphia, PA/Imhotep) layup in the paint, with an assist by sophomore forward Shawn Dowd (Upper Darby, PA/Upper Darby) with 6:19 remaining in the first quarter. This was part of an 8-0 run that was cumulated with a freshman Kalima Daniels (Queens, NY/Boys & Girls) three-point point basket on a freshman guard Sierra Liggon (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro) assist with 4:22 left in the opening quarter (13-6). Harcum twice closed the gap to two points (14-12 with 3:28 remaining on a freshman guard Mikal Knight three-pointer and 23-21 with 0:04.7 left on a pair of Knight free throws), but, Manor led 25-21 after one quarter.
The Blue Jays opened up the second quarter, expanding to an eight point lead (29-21, 9:18) on consecutive baskets by freshman forward Tiana Garvin (Philadelphia, PA/Bodine) and Daniels. The Bears responded with an 8-2 run and closed the deficit to 31-28 on an Ervin layup with 7:24 left in the second quarter. Manor responded back with a freshman guard Jaquay Williams' (Philadelphia, PA/Audenreid) three-point basket on another Dowd assist with 6:44 remaining (34-28). This started on an 11-2 run that cumulated with freshman guard Shaquaya Matthews' (Philadelphia, PA/Mastery North) layup on a long pass by Dowd off of a Harcum missed basket. The Blue Jays twice held 11-point leads (43-32, 2:58 and 45-34, 2:30) and led at halftime 48-40. They outscored Harcum, 23-19, in the second quarter. Matthews led Manor with 12 points and Chambers came off the bench to pace Harcum with 13.
Dowd's jump shot off her own miss gave Manor its last double-digit lead of the game, 50-40, with 9:35 left in the third quarter. Harcum went on a 16-8 run over the next 5:17 and shrunk Manor's lead to 58-56 on a freshman Shawnice Gresham free throw with 4:18 remaining in the quarter. Sophomore guard Asia Timmons' three-point basket with 3:17 left got the Bears within 60-59. Chambers' three-pointer tied the contest at 62 with 2:08 remaining in the third. The Blue Jays ended the quarter on an 8-2 run and led the Bears, 70-64, after three quarters. Harcum outscored Manor in the quarter, 24-22.
The Blue Jays expanded its lead to 72-64 on Dowd's running jumper in the paint with 9:24 left in regulation. The Bears scored eight straight points and tied the game at 72 on Ervin's layup off on a steal with 5:32 remaining. Adams' layup off of a Harcum turnover broke the tie. Harcum's defense held Manor scoreless for the next 4:19 until Adams' basket. Gresham's jumper in the paint with 3:59 left gave the Bears the lead for good, 76-74. Manor freshman forward Kennedy Telfair's (Alexandria, VA/Thomas Edison) layup (on a Williams assist) and free throw with 3:18 remaining in the game got them within one point (78-77). Harcum responded and expanded its lead to 10 points (89-79) in the next 2:17. The Bears went on an 11-2 run that was cumulated with a Gresham layup, on an assist by freshman guard Jaliyuah Giggets with 1:01 left in the game. The Blue Jays got as close as five points (90-85) with 0:21.4 remaining on Dowd's layup on a steal. Freshman guard Lynadia Whiting closed out the Bears' scoring on a pair of free throws and Harcum won 92-85. Harcum outscored Manor in the fourth quarter, 28-15, and in the second half, 52-37.
Manor held Harcum to 37.0% field goal shooting and outrebounded them 57-33.
Four players led Manor with a dozen points each: Adams, Daniels (off the bench), Garvin, and Matthews. Dowd and freshman guard Chyna Steele (York, PA/York) contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively. Garvin also the Blue Jays with 14 rebounds and six steals. Matthews' four assists paced the Blue Jays. Freshman center Taijah James came off the Harcum bench with 13 points and led the team with seven rebounds. Gresham and Whiting scored 11 each. Giggets paced the Bears with seven assists and Ervin led the squad with seven steals.
Since 2005-2006, Manor is 7-15 overall versus Harcum, including five straight losses. They are 5-5 at home versus the Bears. Manor lost to Harcum at home for the first time since December 11, 2012 (83-81), breaking a three-game winning streak.
The Blue Jays are 11-2 in home openers since the 2005-2006 season. This is the first time Manor has hosted Harcum in a home opener. The Blue Jays previously lost in a home opener on November 23, 2013 (62-56 versus Lackawanna College).
Manor's next game is at Region XIX NJCAA Division III Middlesex County College in Edison, New Jersey 5:00 p.m. December 6. The Blue Jays have never played against the Colts. Middlesex County are ranked 10th in the NJCAA Division III Preseason Poll. Manor's next home game is versus Mercer County Community College 5:00 p.m. December 8. The Blue Jays are 11-5 overall and 8-0 versus the Vikings at home. Manor has won five straight games versus Mercer County.