Game 12: Rider Broncs (2-9, 0-0 MAAC) at Manhattan Lady Jaspers (5-6, 0-0 MAAC)
Sunday, January 3, 2010-2 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,345)
TV: None
Radio/Internet: JasperVision (gojaspers.com), gobroncs.com
TODAY'S GAME
Following their 11-day holiday break, the Lady Jaspers (5-6, 0-0 MAAC) return to action this afternoon with their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opener against Rider (2-9, 0-0 MAAC). Manhattan snapped a two-game losing streak with a 63-47 victory over Fordham in the "Battle of the Bronx" on Dec. 22, while Rider has dropped two straight, including a 67-54 decision to No. 24 Syracuse in the Carrier Dome on Dec. 28.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
The Lady Jaspers come into their MAAC opener, and their first game of 2010, looking to post back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Manhattan has had 11 days off since knocking off Fordham 63-47 in the "Battle of the Bronx" on Dec. 22. Senior guard Michelle Pacheco ranks third in the MAAC in scoring, averaging a team-high 15.8 points per game. She leads the MAAC in assists, dishing out 6.2 per contest, and ranks fourth in the league in steals (2.8 per game). Sophomore forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer is second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg) and leads the Lady Jaspers with 6.7 rebounds per game. Sohphomore guard Alyssa Herrington averages 11.6 points and a MAAC-leading 2.8 three-pointers per game, while junior guard Abby Wentworth averages 10.5 points and 2.9 steals per game. Sophomore forward Nadia Peters is second in the MAAC in both field goal percentage (.574, 35-of-61) and blocked shots (1.8 bpg).
ABOUT RIDER
Rider has dropped two straight since a 66-53 victory over Penn on Dec. 12. In their last game, the Broncs hung with No. 23 Syracuse for a while before losing, 67-46, at the Carrier Dome on Dec. 28. Senior guard Amanda Sepulveda averages a team-high 12.2 points per game and ranks third in the MAAC with 2.5 three-pointers per game. Sepulveda also paces the Broncs in assists, dishing out 2.3 per contest. Junior guard Cintella Spotwood is the only other Rider player averaging in double figures with 11.7 points per game. Freshman center Caitlin Bopp has been named MAAC Rookie of the Week in each of the last two weeks. She had nine points and 14 rebounds in the loss to Syracuse, and she currently ranks second in the MAAC with a team-leading 9.1 rebounds per game. Bopp also averages 6.2 points per game. Freshman forward Carleigh Brown has started every game and leads Rider with 1.1 steals per contest.
MANHATTAN VS RIDER ALL-TIME
The Lady Jaspers and Broncs are meeting for the 29th time, and Manhattan leads the all-time series 21-7. Last season, the squads split the series, with the visiting team winning each contest. Rider posted a 76-66 victory at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 11, while the Lady Jaspers returned the favor with a 71-55 win at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton on Feb. 13.
MANHATTAN IN MAAC OPENERS
Historically, Manhattan hasn't gotten off to a good start in conference play. The Lady Jaspers are just 6-22 all-time in MAAC openers, four times starting conference play with a win against Iona and twice with a victory over Siena. However, Manhattan has won two of its last three MAAC openers. The last time Manhattan began MAAC play with a home win was in 2004-05, when the Lady Jaspers beat Iona 86-71.
MANHATTAN 63, FORDHAM 47
After last season's bitter loss Fordham, Manhattan wanted to make sure it wouldn't happen again in the 41st "Battle of the Bronx." Mission accomplished. The Lady Jaspers controlled the game from the start en route to a 63-47 victory over the Rams on Dec. 22. Manhattan never trailed and held Fordham to just 29.5 percent (18-of-61) shooting from the field. The Lady Jaspers used an 18-3 run to open up a 26-8 lead midway through the first half, and held a 32-15 lead at the break. Fordham wasn't able to pull any closer than 11 in the second half. Bronx native Michelle Pacheco led the Lady Jaspers with 18 points. She added six rebounds and six assists. Abby Wentworth had 11 points and three steals, and Alyssa Herrington added 11 points. Lindsey Loutsenhizer came off the bench and grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.