Game 6: Elon Phoenix (2-2) at Manhattan Lady Jaspers (2-3)
Tuesday, December 1, 2009-7 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,345)
TV: None
Radio/Internet: JasperVision (gojaspers.com)
TONIGHT'S GAME
Manhattan (2-3) returns home for the only time in a five-game span to host Elon (2-2) at Draddy Gymnasium. The Lady Jaspers are looking to snap a two-game losing streak after dropping a 64-45 decision at Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon. The Phoenix also last played on Saturday, when they fell 82-46 at Virginia Tech. Elon, which was picked to finish 11th in the Southern Conference Preseason Poll, has alternated wins and losses over its first four games.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
Manhattan returns to the friendly confines of Draddy Gymnasium looking to snap a two-game losing streak. The Lady Jaspers have won both of their home games this season by an average of 34.5 points. Sophomore forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer has averaged 16.3 points per game over the last three contests, including a 17-point effort against Sacred Heart on Saturday. Loutsenhizer ranks second on the team in scoring (13.8 ppg) and leads the Lady Jaspers with 6.2 rebounds per game. Senior guard Michelle Pacheco leads Manhattan in scoring (14.4 ppg) and paces the MAAC with 6.6 assists per game. Sophomore guard Alyssa Herrington drains a conference-best 3.4 three-pointers per game. She ranks third on the Lady Jaspers in scoring, averaging 11.6 points per game. Sophomore forward Nadia Peters is second in the MAAC with a field goal percentage of .600. After tonight's game, Manhattan goes back on the road for contests at Vermont and Army.
ABOUT ELON
Elon enters tonight's game with a 2-2 record after dropping an 82-46 decision at Virginia Tech on Saturday. Freshman guard Ali Ford paces Elon with 16.5 points per game. She also leads the team with 4.3 assists per game and ranks second on the Phoenix with 2.5 steals per contest. Freshman forward Kelsey Evans ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 9.3 points per game, and leads the Phoenix with 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Forward Lei Lei Hairston, Elon's third freshman starter, averages 8.8 points and a team-best 2.8 steals per game. As a team, Elon is averaging 74.2 points per game and shooting .437 from the field. Elon also averages 42.8 rebounds per game. The Phoenix, who were picked to finish 12th in the Southern Conference Preseason Poll, are in the midst of a five-game road trip. Elon begins conference play at Georgia Southern and the College of Charleston this weekend.
MANHATTAN VS ELON ALL-TIME
Tonight's game is the first all-time meeting between Manhattan and Elon, and just the fourth between the Lady Jaspers and a member of the Southern Conference. Manhattan is 0-2 all-time against Davidson and 0-1 against UNC Greensboro. The Lady Jaspers haven't played a SoCon team since a 68-65 loss to Davidson on Dec. 28, 2000.
SACRED HEART 64, MANHATTAN 45
The Lady Jaspers suffered their second straight loss on Saturday afternoon, falling 64-45 to Sacred Heart at the Pitt Center. The Pioneers quickly built a 12-5 lead, but Manhattan gradually chipped away, tying the game at 15-15. However, Sacred Heart responded with an 8-0 run to open up a 23-15 advantage. The Lady Jaspers got back within two at 25-23, but Sacred Heart used consecutive three-pointers to take a 33-25 lead into halftime. Manhattan was able to pull no closer than seven in the second half, and the Pioneers gradually extended their lead to the final 19-point margin. Lindsey Loutsenhizer led the Lady Jaspers with 17 points, while Toni-Ann Lawrence grabbed a career-high seven rebounds. Abby Wentworth swiped a career-best six steals in the game.