Game 10: Cornell Big Red (4-3) at Manhattan Lady Jaspers (4-5)
Saturday, December 19, 2009-7 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,345)
TV: None
Radio/Internet: JasperVision (gojaspers.com), cornellbigred.com
TONIGHT'S GAME
Manhattan (4-5) continues its five-game homestand tonight with a matchup against Cornell (4-3). The Lady Jaspers have been off since Dec. 12, when they dropped a 73-65 decision to Hofstra. Cornell hasn't played since Dec. 3, when it knocked off Colgate 74-64. The Big Red, who have won three of their last four, were picked to finish sixth in the Ivy League Preseason Poll. Tonight's game is the first all-time meeting between the teams.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
The Lady Jaspers return from their week-long finals break to continue their five-game homestand tonight against Cornell. In its last game, Manhattan suffered its first home loss of the season, 73-65 to Hofstra. Senior guard Michelle Pacheco, who tallied a career-high 25 points against the Pride, leads the Lady Jaspers with 14.8 points per game. She is also the MAAC leader in assists, averaging 6.4 per game. Sophomore forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer ranks second on the team in scoring (13.8 ppg) and paces the Lady Jaspers with 6.2 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Alyssa Herrington averages 11.7 points and a MAAC-leading 2.9 three-pointers per game. With her next three-point field goal, Herrington will become the seventh player in program history to record 100 career treys. Sophomore forward Nadia Peters ranks second in the MAAC in both blocked shots (1.9 bpg) and field goal percentage (.592, 29-of-49).
ABOUT CORNELL
Cornell has been off since Dec. 3, when it posted a 74-64 home win over Colgate. Senior guard Allie Fedorowicz paces the Big Red with 15.4 points per game. She also ranks second on the squad in both rebounds (5.0 rpg) and assists (2.9 apg). Senior guard Virginia McMunigal is second on the team in scoring with an average of 11.9 points per game. McMunigal is fifth in the nation with a three-point percentage of .545 (18-of-33). As a team, the Big Red rank fifth nationally in three-point percentage (.426, 58-of-136). Senior guard Lauren Benson averages 10.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Benson also leads the Big Red and ranks seventh in the NCAA with 7.1 assists per game. Sophomore forward Allie Munson averages a team-leading 5.7 rebounds per contest. Cornell, which made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2008, was picked to finish sixth in the Ivy League Preseason Poll.
MANHATTAN VS CORNELL ALL-TIME
While tonight's game is the first all-time meeting between Manhattan and Cornell, the Lady Jaspers have played at least two games against each of the other seven schools in the Ivy League. The Lady Jaspers are 21-16 all-time against the Ancient Eight and have defeated every other Ivy League squad except Harvard. Manhattan dropped a 69-66 decision at Columbia on Nov. 24.
HOFSTRA 73, MANHATTAN 65
Manhattan scored the first nine points of the game and raced out to a 21-10 lead midway through the first half, but Hofstra used its superior size to chip away at the lead and eventually wear down the Lady Jaspers in a 73-65 Pride victory at Draddy Gymnasium on Dec. 12. Manhattan held a 28-27 advantage at the break, but Hofstra claimed the lead for good five minutes into the second half. The Pride led by as many as nine points before a three-pointer by Lindsey Loutsenhizer cut the deficit to three, 68-65, with 1:15 left. However, Hofstra responded with a long three on the other end to make it a six-point game, then hit a pair of late free throws to finish off a 73-65 victory. Michelle Pacheco posted a career-high 25 points, including 15 in the second half, to lead Manhattan.
HOOPS FOR CANCER
Tonight Manhattan and Cornell are celebrating "Hoops for Cancer Night." There is a cancer information booth set up in the main concourse, and the Lady Jaspers are asking for donations to the American Cancer Society. Donations can be made in the form of flat monetary amounts, as well as donations of a certain amount for each made basket. The American Cancer Society will also present each team with a certificate thanking them for their participation in various different cancer awareness programs throughout the year during a brief pregame ceremony.