Game 18: Manhattan Lady Jaspers (8-9, 3-3 MAAC) at Iona Gaels (9-8, 5-1 MAAC)
Friday, January 22, 2010-12 p.m.
New Rochelle, N.Y.-Hynes Athletic Center (2,611)
TV: None
Radio/Internet: icgaels.com
TODAY'S GAME
The Lady Jaspers (8-9, 3-3 MAAC) make the short trip to New Rochelle this afternoon to wrap up the season series with Iona (9-8, 5-1 MAAC). The Gaels won the first meeting, 79-62 at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 5. Manhattan is coming off a 69-53 victory over Fairfield on Monday afternoon, while Iona has won five straight, including a 61-45 victory over Saint Peter's on Monday. The Manhattan and Iona men's teams will meet tonight at 9 p.m. in Riverdale.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
Manhattan enters today's game looking for its second straight win. The Lady Jaspers posted a 69-53 victory over Fairfield on Monday. Sophomore forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer had 21 points against the Stags and is averaging 20.0 points and 7.3 rebounds over her last four games. Loutsenhizer leads the team with 18.0 points per game in MAAC play and ranks second overall with 14.5 points per game. She is also the team's leading rebounder, averaging 6.4 boards per contest. Senior guard Michelle Pacheco leads Manhattan in scoring with an average of 15.5 points per game. She paces the MAAC in assists (5.2 apg) and also leads the Lady Jaspers in steals (2.8 spg). Junior guard Abby Wentworth is Manhattan's leading rebounder in MAAC games, averaging 6.2 boards per contest in conference play. Sophomore forward Nadia Peters ranks second in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.520) and is third in the league in blocked shots (1.6 bpg).
ABOUT IONA
After losing their first conference game to Loyola, the Gaels have won five straight games to move into second place in the MAAC. Iona is coming off a 61-45 victory over Saint Peter's on Monday. Senior guard Thazina Cook is the current MAAC Player of the Week. Cook averaged 19.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last week, and she currently leads the Gaels with 15.3 points per game. She also also second on the team in rebounding, averaging 8.6 boards per contest. Senior center Anna McLean averages 11.6 points and a team-leading 8.6 rebounds per game. McLean leads the MAAC in offensive rebounds (4.2 per game) and ranks third in the league with a field goal percentage of .506. Junior guard Suzi Fregosi ranks among the MAAC leaders in three different categories. She leads the league in assist/turnover ratio (2.3), while ranking second in assists (5.1 apg) and fourth in steals (2.5 spg).
MANHATTAN VS IONA ALL-TIME
Iona has won the last two meetings between the squads, including a 79-62 victory at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 5. Manhattan's last victory over the Gaels was a 57-56 win on Jan. 4, 2009. That game was also the last meeting between the teams in New Rochelle. Overall, this is the 61st all-time meeting between the longtime rivals. Manhattan leads the all-time series 40-20.
MANHATTAN 69, FAIRFIELD 53
In their only appearance at Draddy Gymnasium in a six-game span, the Lady Jaspers jumped out to a 7-1 lead, then withstood a Fairfield rally in the second half to post a 69-53 victory on Monday afternoon. After Manhattan led 32-26 at halftime, Fairfield stormed out of the gate in the second half, taking the lead for the first time, 38-36, with 14:20 remaining. The Lady Jaspers responded with a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead, then went on an 11-2 run after the Stags got back within three. Manhattan held Fairfield scoreless over the final 1:45 to pull away for the 69-53 victory. Lindsey Loutsenhizer had her second straight 20-point game, posting a game-high 21 points, while Michelle Pacheco added 12 points and Kerri White chipped in 10. Abby Wentworth grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
