PURCHASE, N.Y. –  Four Valiant finished in double figures, as the Manhattanville women's basketball team clinched the top seed in the Freedom Conference Tournament with a 75-55 victory over Misericordia University on Senior Day at Kennedy Gymnasium in the final day of the regular-season.

With the victory, Manhattanville finishes the regular-season with a 17-8 overall record and a 9-4 record in the conference and clinches its second-straight Freedom Conference regular-season title. The Valiants will once again host Misericordia (15-10, 9-5 Freedom) on Wednesday evening in the semifinals of the Freedom Conference Tournament at 7 p.m.

"Something clicked with our team," said head coach Lauren Thomer. "And for the first time in my two years, I feel like we've been finally playing consistent basketball as a unit.

"I'm really proud of our seniors, Hickey, Mo and Degnan, who had a refuse-to-lose mentality and took over on their special day."

The Valiants had three players off the bench scoring in double figures. Sophomore Janetta Arnold (Windsor, Conn./Suffield Academy) was on fire in the contest and finished with a perfect shooting percentage, connecting on all six field goals, including two from the outside and all four free throws. The forward combination of sophomores Jennifer McSharar (Garnerville, N.Y./North Rockland) and Taylor Wilson (Pearl River, N.Y./Pearl River) added 12 points each on combined 8-of-13 shooting, with Wilson connecting on all four three-point attempts and McSharar making 4-of-5 from the line. 

Senior Simona Gordon (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge & Latin) enjoyed a successful final regular-season game at home with 16 points and seven rebounds along with five assists and four steals. Classmate Carey Hickey (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Dobbs Ferry) added eight assists and four points while fellow senior Kaitlin Degnan (Irvington, N.Y./Irvington) chipped in four points and two boards in her first start of the year.

The hosts finished the contest shooting 52 percent from the field and 57 percent from the outside, as the Valiants made 8-of-14 from long range. Misericordia struggled all day long and shot 38 percent from the field. 

"It's a tremendous accomplishment to be the top seed in a conference that is, head and shoulders, better across the board then last year," commented Thomer.

Neither team could sustain any kind of offensive threat early in the contest and just three points were scored in the first five minutes, but the Valiants turned on the scoring in the latter part of the half with an 11-4 run to end the half and take a 35-21 lead heading into locker room. Arnold already entered double figures in the first half with 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 from the line.

The Valiants continued to outscore the Cougars in the second half and took their largest lead with 6:37 remaining in the game leading 69-41 off a three-pointer by Arnold. The Valiants continued to hold the lead through the conclusion of the game as Thomer's squad kept the lead above 20 points and shot 61 percent in the final stanza.

The Valiants made the best of their bench depth in the contest, as 44 of the 75 points came from the reserves and 26 points came from 19 turnovers by the Cougars. Manhattanville outrebounded Misericordia, 33-27, with a team effort on the glass as nine Valiants grabbed at least one rebound.

For the Cougars, Marks finished with a team-high 19 points and eight rebounds, and two other Cougars finished in double figures, as Tyann McDaniel had 12 points and Jesse Robinson had 11 points.

"I think at their place we were a different team then and I don't think we had the same defensive focus at that time," said Thomer. "I like the way we defended today and we have to continue to be physical with (Marks) and pressure (McDaniel)."

The Valiants finish out the regular-season with a 9-1 home record and a 7-0 record at Kennedy Gym against conference foes.

"There is so much more parity this year and I believe anyone can beat anyone on a given night, but I feel good about our chances at home," added Thomer.