Box Score Coach Smith's Post-Game Interview

ITHACA, N.Y. – Behind the strength of Taylor Flynn's career-high 26 points and Allyson DiMagno's third double-double of the 2012-13 campaign, the Big Red women's basketball team handed head coach Dayna Smith her 100th career win with a thrilling 70-60 victory over Manhattan this evening in Newman Arena. With the win, Cornell improves to 3-2 on the year, while the Lady Jaspers slip to 1-2.

Flynn scored her 26 points on 8-for-15 shooting, including a mark of 5-for-7 from 3-point range, and 5-for-7 from the charity stripe. It was her best single-game performance since scoring 26 points against Harvard during her rookie season. DiMagno racked up 13 points, but was truly impressive on the backboards, pulling down 19 rebounds, just five less than the entire Manhattan team. She helped the Big Red to a 44-24 advantage on the glass

Stephanie Long also had her best game of the season with 16 points, connecting on 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and adding five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.

As a team, Cornell shot 46.8 percent from the floor (22-of-47) and a blistering 52.6 percent from 3-point range (10-19). The Big Red also took advantage of free throws, connecting on 84.2 percent (16-of-19).

The hot shooting and huge rebounding advantage helped Cornell overcome 24 turnovers on 15 Manhattan steals.

The Lady Jaspers were led by Monica Roeder and Shayna Ericksen with 16 points apiece, while Toni-Ann Lawrence added 13.  Ericksen also added a team-high six rebounds while Ashley Stec handed out four assists.

Manhattan, who shot lights out from the 3-point range in last season's meeting, struggled from beyond the arc in this go-around, connecting on just 3-of-22 for 13.6 percent. The Lady Jaspers shot 39.7 percent overall (25-of-63).

After a back-and-forth battle in the opening minutes of the contest, Flynn and Kristina Danielak subbed into the game and immediately gave the Big Red a boost, combining for six unanswered points to put the home team up, 15-9, at the 10:18 mark. The Big Red eventually extended that lead to nine points (27-18) on a pair of made free throws from Jen Wahleithner and then took the 29-22 advantage into the half.

The second half opened with lots of offense, with the Big Red getting a trey from Long, a jumper from DiMagno and a pair of 3-pointers from Flynn to build a 41-29 lead at the 15:37 mark, but Manhattan used a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to take a one-point advantage (42-41).

The teams traded baskets on the next four trips up and down the floor before a pair of made free throws from Allison Bockrath restored the one-point lead to Cornell, 47-46, with 8:43 to play. A single free throw from Lawrence tied the game for the fourth and final time as Bockrath's trey on Cornell's next possession made it a 50-47 contest and put the home team up for good.

Both teams continued to push the tempo, but the Big Red answered every Manhattan bucket and hit its free throws down the stretch, going a perfect 6-for-6 in the final minute to seal the 70-60 victory.

Cornell will take a well-deserved break for Thanksgiving before returning to action at New Hampshire on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m.