Purchase, NY (Nov. 24, 2015) – Rival Manhattanville used a first-half surge to get past Purchase in the Panther home opener Tuesday night.

And every time the Panthers responded, the Valiants answered back with a run of their own, as the visitors earned a 77-51 win in the Anderson Hill Road non-conference matchup.   

In the opening five minutes, both teams started slow. Purchase got rolling first, scoring the game's first four points, but the Valiants answered with a 7-0 run and then quickly doubled that up in the first quarter, en route to a 22-9 margin at the end of the first period.

The small break in between quarters seemed to energy Purchase, which reeled off five straight and cut the deficit to 22-14.
The Panthers then pulled within nine (25-16) at 7:25 in the second before the Valiants responded and stretched the lead to 35-23. Purchase got back within 10 (35-25) under two minutes to go in the second, but the Valiants closed the first-half strong, leading 39-27.

Despite some gritty play, Purchase trailed Manhattanville by 14 at the end of the third and watched as the Valiants increased that double-figure lead in the fourth quarter. In the end, the Panthers never recovered from the double-digit deficit from the first half.

Manhattanville improved to 3-1 overall, dropping Purchase to 0-4.

The Valiants were led by point guard Bri Pabon, who scored a game-high 15. She was among three starters in double-figure points Purchase was paced by key reserve Michelle Burke (SO/Central Valley, NY), who netted 12 points off the bench in the loss.