JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Manhattanville women's basketball team improved to 5-3 on the 2012-13 season as they defeated the New Jersey City Gothic Knights on Saturday afternoon by the score of 64-59 from the John J. Moore Center.

Sophomore Alyson Caiazzo (Brooklyn, N.Y/St. Saviour) had a career-best 27 points and her seventh double-double in eight games this season as she ended the game with a team-high 14 rebounds.

Senior Taylor Wilson (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) also recorded a double-double as she finished the game with 10 points and tied a career-high with 13 rebounds. The last time Wilson recorded as many boards came back during her freshman season against Delaware Valley on February 16, 2010. Sophomore Bri Pabon (Newington, Conn./Newington) also reached double-figure in points as she finished the game with 10 as well.

The game opened with Manhattanville opening a 6-2 lead on the Gothic Knights that was capped off by Wilson's layup to put the Valiants up at the 16:31 mark of the first period.

The Valiants continued to balloon the lead and opened up a double-digit lead as Caiazzo laid one home with 9:15 to go in the first half. As the Valiants opened up a 17-4 lead they were called for a technical foul for having too many players on the court, and New Jersey City converted both free throws to make the score 17-6.

Moment later as the Valiants were up by 13, and Wilson hit a mid-range jumper then followed that up with a long-two pointer to increase the lead by 17. The Gotchic Knights converted on a free throw, and answered back one of their own as sophomore Shayna Robinson (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) picked up the free throw of her own.

Jade Medley of New Jersey City cut the lead down to 14 after sinking a three-pointer with just over five minutes to go in the half. Manhattanville closed out the half on a 5-3 run, including a last second layup from junior Shauna Mulkerin (Branchburg, N.J./Immaculata) as she drove from the wing into the open lane for the layup.

After leading by 14 at halftime, the Valiants and Gothic Knights struggled out of the break until the 18:15 point when Ashley Vazquez sank a basket to pull New Jersey City back within 12. Caiazzo answered back with a layup after taking a quick pass from Pabon. Caiazzo and the Valiants continued to roll as they held onto a double-figure lead including a jumper from the top of the key from Caiazzo at 14:40 of the second half.

A series of turnovers led to a drought once again for both times that was broken by Alinisa Hernaiz with a layup with 12:17 left in regulation. A three-pointer from Vazquez trimmed the lead back to single digits for the Gothic Knights, but Wilson responded with a long two-pointer to regain the double-figure edge.

New Jersey City went on a brief 4-0 run and continued to slice into the Valiant lead, but once again it was Caiazzo to answer with back-to-back layups to give her 23 points on the afternoon and a 46-34 lead over the Gothic Knights. New Jersey City then responded with a three-pointer and another jumper but the Valiants answered back.

Robinson hit a free throw, followed by Pabon hitting a pull-up three from the right elbow with 5:31 to go to give Manhattanville a 50-39 lead. The Valiants rattled off four more points after Robinson hit a pair of free throws and Caiazzo hit another basket in the paint to open up a 15-point lead.

The Valiants earned 15-point edges in their final two possessions  as Wilson hit a pair from the charity stripe with 1:42 to go, followed by another Wilson jumper from in the paint as the Gotchic Knights continued to answer back. New Jersey City had one final answer with 34 seconds to go, but Pabon hit a layup to seal the 15-point victory for Manhattanville.

As a team, Manhattanville only shot 33.3% from the floor, but came on in the second half to hit 51.9% from the field.

Manhattanville (5-3) will next play in two days when it travels to Aston, Pa. to take on Neumann this Monday with tip-off slated for 6:00 p.m. New Jersey City (3-8) will take on the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at home on December 19 at 6:00 p.m.