Game 20: Saint Peter's Peahens (7-12, 3-5 MAAC) at Manhattan Lady Jaspers (9-10, 4-4 MAAC)
Friday, January 29, 2010-7 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,345)
TV: None
Radio/Internet: JasperVision (gojaspers.com)
TONIGHT'S GAME
The 2009-10 MAAC season reaches its halfway point, as the Lady Jaspers (9-10, 4-4 MAAC) return home to take on Saint Peter's (7-12, 3-5 MAAC) on NCAA "Pack the House" Night at Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan defeated Fairfield for the second time in a week, 64-57, on Sunday afternoon, while Saint Peter's snapped a four-game losing streak with a 66-59 win over Canisius on Sunday. These squads will meet again 11 days from now in Jersey City.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
After playing five of its last six games on the road, Manhattan returns to Draddy Gymnasium for jus the second time since Jan. 5 looking to even its overall record at 10-10. The Lady Jaspers are 4-4 in MAAC play after a 64-57 win over Fairfield on Sunday afternoon, their second victory over the Stags in a week. Sophomore forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer is averaging a team-leading 17.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in MAAC games. Overall, Loutsenhizer ranks second on the team in scoring (14.4 ppg) and first in rebounding (6.3 rpg). Senior guard Michelle Pacheco is Manhattan's leading scorer with an average of 14.9 points per game. She ranks second in the MAAC in both assists and steals, averaging 5.1 assists and 3.0 steals per game. Junior guard Abby Wentworth contributes 10.1 points per game, while sophomore forward Nadia Peters ranks second in the MAAC in blocked shots (1.6 bpg) and third in field goal percentage (.504).
ABOUT SAINT PETER'S
Saint Peter's enters today's game with a 7-12 overall record and a 3-5 mark in MAAC play. The Peahens, who snapped a four-game losing streak with a 66-59 victory over Canisius on Sunday, are in the midst of a span where they play five out of six on the road. Senior guard/forward Natasha Morris averages a team-high 11.4 points per game, while sophomore forward Jynae Judson averages 11.3 points and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds per contest. Judson also paces Saint Peter's with 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Senior guard Alena Ali and junior forward/center Charlene Riddick each average 9.5 points per game. Riddick also registers a team-best 1.5 blocked shots per game and ranks second on the squad with 6.3 rebounds per contest. Sophomore center Quiana Porter grabs 5.1 rebounds per game. The Peahens continue their road trip with a visit to Loyola on Monday night.
MANHATTAN VS SAINT PETER'S ALL-TIME
The Lady Jaspers and Peahens split the season series in 2008-09, with each team winning on its home floor. Manhattan notched a 73-50 victory at Draddy Gymnasium and Saint Peter's won 56-55 in Jersey City. The longtime rivals have met at least once every season since 1978-79, the first year of women's basketball at Manhattan. Saint Peter's leads the all-time series 50-16.
MANHATTAN 64, FAIRFIELD 57
The Lady Jaspers went 6-for-7 from three-point range in the first half, then withstood a Fairfield charge in the second to post their second victory over the Stags in six days, 64-57, on Sunday afternoon. Manhattan used a 23-7 midway through the first half to build a 36-19 advantage before Fairfield scored the last five points of the half. The Stags carried their momentum into the second half, pulling within two, 44-42, with 10:40 left, but back-to-back layups by Lindsey Loutsenhizer pushed Manhattan's lead back to six. Manhattan took care of business at the free throw line, shooting 89.5 percent (17-of-19) in the second half, to seal the victory. Kerri White made her first start of the season and matched a career-high with 15 points, while Abby Wentworth also tallied 15 points and Loutsenhizer added 14.
PACK THE HOUSE
Tonight, the Lady Jaspers are participating in the NCAA's third annual women's basketball "Pack the House" Challenge. The goal of "Pack the House" is to set a program attendance record. The first 500 fans received free Manhattan women's basketball t-shirts, and all children under 14 were admitted free of charge. There were pregame poster making and face painting sessions, and there will be various promotions during the game. After the game, the Lady Jaspers will participate in a meet-and-greet and poster signing.
