Game 11: Fordham Rams (6-4) at Manhattan Lady Jaspers (4-6)
Tuesday, December 22, 2009-7 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,345)
TV: None
Radio/Internet: JasperVision (gojaspers.com), fordhamsports.com
TONIGHT'S GAME
The Lady Jaspers (4-6) wrap up non-conference play, and the 2009 calendar year, tonight with the 41st "Battle of the Bronx" against Fordham (6-4). Manhattan has dropped three out of its last four games, including a 71-67 loss to Cornell on Saturday afternoon. The Rams haven't played since Dec. 12, when they had a three-game winning streak snapped by UNC Greensboro, 69-63. After tonight's game, Manhattan has 12 days off before opening MAAC play against Rider on Jan. 3.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
Manhattan continues its five-game homestand looking to snap a two-game skid. The Lady Jaspers are coming off a 71-67 loss to Cornell on Saturday afternoon. Senior guard Michelle Pacheco had 23 points on Saturday, her second straight 20-point game and third of the season. She leads the Lady Jaspers and ranks third in the MAAC with 15.6 points per game. Pacheco also leads the league in assists (6.2 apg) and ranks third in the MAAC in steals (3.1 spg). Sophomore forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer averages 13.0 points and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Alyssa Herrington drained her 100th career three-pointer against Cornell. She leads the MAAC with 2.8 three-pointers per game and ranks third on the team with 11.7 points per game. Junior guard Abby Wentworth averages 10.4 points per game, while sophomore forward Nadia Peters ranks second in the MAAC in both field goal percentage (.582, 32-of-55) and blocks (1.9 bpg).
ABOUT FORDHAM
At 6-4, Fordham is off to its best start since the 2003-04 season. The Rams had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 69-63 loss to UNC Greensboro in their last game on Dec. 12. Fordham defeated three MAAC teams (Saint Peter's, Rider, Iona) during that stretch. Senior forward Randall Hurst leads the Rams with 16.2 points per game while also ranking second on the team with 6.0 rebounds per contest. Sophomore forward Becky Peters averages 12.1 points per game and junior forward Katie Vican adds 11.1 points per contest. Vican is a .500 (10-of-20) three-point shooter. Junior forward Tiffany Stokes grabs a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game to go along with her 10.5 points per contest. Stokes also leads the Rams with 1.1 blocks per game. Freshman guard Kristina Bell paces the team in both assists (2.6 apg) and steals (1.9 spg). Fordham was picked to finish 14th in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
MANHATTAN VS FORDHAM ALL-TIME
Tonight's game is the 41st "Battle of the Bronx." Manhattan holds a 22-18 edge in the series, but the Rams have won two of the last three meetings, including a 62-49 victory last season at Rose Hill Gym. The Lady Jaspers won the last meeting at Draddy Gymnasium, 65-53, on Nov. 11, 2007. Manhattan and Fordham have played at least once a season every year since the 1979-80 campaign.
CORNELL 71, MANHATTAN 67
The Lady Jaspers scored the first eight points of the game and led 29-25 at halftime, but Cornell erupted for 46 second-half points, and Manhattan's comeback effort came up just short in the Big Red's 71-67 victory on Saturday afternoon. After the Lady Jaspers used a 5-0 run late in the first half to take a 29-25 halftime lead, Michelle Pacheco extended the advantage to six points with a layup to open the second half. However, the Big Red responded with a 7-0 run to take the lead for good. Manhattan had a chance to tie it late, but Abby Wentworth's three-pointer was off the mark. Pacheco finished with 23 points, her second straight 20-point game, to lead the Lady Jaspers. Wentworth tallied 14 points, while Alyssa Herrington drained her 100th career three-pointer as part of a 12-point effort.
BATTLE OF THE BRONX
Tonight's game is the sixth meeting between the local rivals during the 2009-10 athletic season. Fordham currently leads the all-sports series 3-2. The Rams won the first three contests, posting a 3-1 triumph in volleyball, a 3-0 win in women's soccer, and a 1-0 victory in men's soccer. Manhattan, however, claimed a 4-3 victory in women's tennis and recorded a 68-44 win over the Rams in the men's basketball game on Nov. 28. The baseball squads will meet on March 3, while the softball teams wrap-up the all-sports season series with a doubleheader on April 6.
