Game 7: Manhattan Lady Jaspers (3-3) at Vermont Catamounts (4-1)
Saturday, December 5, 2009-1 p.m.
Burlington, Vt.-Patrick Gymnasium (3,228)
TV: None
Radio/Internet: www.sportsjuice.com, WMVT-AM 620 (Burlington)
TODAY'S GAME
After snapping their two-game losing streak with an 83-67 victory over Elon on Tuesday night, the Lady Jaspers (3-3) begin a two-game road trip this afternoon against Vermont (4-1). The Catamounts, the defending America East champions, suffered their first loss of the season, 84-42, at No. 1 Connecticut on Thursday night. Vermont, which received votes in this week's ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, was picked to defend its conference title in the America East Preseason Poll.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
The Lady Jaspers snapped a two-game skid with an 83-67 victory over Elon on Tuesday night. That contest was Manhattan's only home game in a five-game span. After playing Vermont today, the Lady Jaspers conclude their brief two-game road trip at Army on Tuesday night. Sophomore forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer is tied for the team lead in both scoring and rebounding. She averages 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Senior guard Michelle Pacheco also averages 13.7 points per game, and she leads the MAAC with 7.0 assists per game. Pacheco tied a career-high with nine assists in the win over Elon. Sophomore guard Alyssa Herrrington, a former Gatorade Vermont Player of the Year in high school, averages 11.3 points and 3.3 three-pointers per game. Junior guard Abby Wentworth contributes 10.5 points per game, while sophomore forward Nadia Peters ranks second in the MAAC with 2.2 blocks per game.
ABOUT VERMONT
The Catamounts suffered their first loss of the season, 84-42 at top-ranked Connecticut on Thursday night. The defending America East champions, Vermont was tabbed to win the conference title again in the America East Preseason Poll. Senior guard Courtnay Pilypaitis, a Preseason First Team All-America East selection, paces the Catamounts with 20.8 points, 4.6 assists and 4.0 steals per game. She also ranks second on the squad with 5.8 rebounds per contest. Senior guard May Kotsopoulos was also a Preseason First Team All-America East pick. She averages 17.2 points and 2.4 assists per game. Freshman guard/forward Kendra Seto contributes 9.4 points per game, while senior forward Sofia Iwobi leads Vermont in rebounding (6.0 rpg). Vermont is in the midst of a span where it plays four games in seven days. Following today's contest, the Catamounts visit Holy Cross and Massachusetts.
MANHATTAN VS VERMONT ALL-TIME
The Lady Jaspers and Catamounts are meeting for the fourth consecutive season, and Manhattan is still looking for its first win in the series. The closest game during that span was Vermont's 74-65 victory the last time the teams met in Burlington on Dec. 17, 2006. Manhattan is 0-4 all-time against Vermont and 12-10 against the America East Conference.
MANHATTAN 83, ELON 67
Led by career games from Abby Wentworth and Nadia Peters, the Lady Jaspers snapped their two-game losing streak with an 83-67 victory over Elon at Draddy Gymnasium on Tuesday. Wentworth had 24 points and a career-high seven steals, while Peters recorded her first career double-double with career-bests 17 points and 11 rebounds. In a contest that featured seven ties and 16 lead changes, the Lady Jaspers held a 36-35 halftime lead. Manhattan was in front for most of the second half, and scored the final 11 points of the game to pull away for an 83-67 victory. Michelle Pacheco finished with 10 points and tied a career-high with nine assists, while Lindsey Loutsenhizer tallied 13 points. Alyssa Herrington chipped in 10 points and tied a career-high with seven rebounds.