Game 25: Manhattan Lady Jaspers (13-11, 8-5 MAAC) at Marist Red Foxes (19-6, 11-2 MAAC)
Monday, February 15, 2010-7:30 p.m.
Poughkeepsie, N.Y.-McCann Center (3,200)
TV: None
Radio/Internet: goredfoxes.com
TONIGHT'S GAME
Manhattan (13-11, 8-5 MAAC) puts its season-long three-game winning streak on the line tonight with its first meeting of the season against first-place Marist (19-6, 11-2 MAAC). The Lady Jaspers have posted back-to-back two-point wins, 59-57 at Saint Peter's and 55-53 over Niagara, while Marist is coming off an 84-39 victory over Rider on Friday night. This is the start of Manhattan's final two-game road trip of the season.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
The Lady Jaspers (13-11, 8-5 MAAC) extended their winning streak to a season-high three games with a 55-53 victory over Niagara at Draddy Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. That win gave Manhattan sole possession of third place in the MAAC. Sophomore forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer, who is averaging 17.4 points per game in MAAC play, leads the Lady Jaspers in both scoring and rebounding. She averages 15.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Loutsenhizer is second in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.463) and third in free throw percentage (.827). Senior guard Michelle Pacheco, who hit the winning shot against Niagara, is second on the squad with 14.8 points per game. She ranks second in the MAAC with 5.0 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Sophomore forward Nadia Peters is second in the conference with 1.6 blocks per game. Manhattan is 5-1 since sophomore guard Kerri White entered the starting lineup on Jan. 24.
ABOUT MARIST
First-place Marist (19-6, 11-2 MAAC), the four-time defending MAAC Champions, has alternated wins and losses over its last five games, and is coming off an 84-39 victory over Rider on Friday. Senior forward Rachele Fitz, the two-time defending MAAC Player of the Year, leads the conference in scoring with an average of 17.9 points per game. She is also the MAAC leader in field goal percentage (.574). Fitz also averages a team-high 8.1 rebounds per game, the fourth-highest total in the MAAC. Sophomore guard Corielle Yarde averages 14.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, and leads the MAAC with an .864 free throw percentage. Junior guard Erica Allenspach averages 13.9 points and a team-high 3.8 assists per game. Allenspach leads the MAAC in three-point percentage, shooting .442 from long distance. As a team, the Red Foxes lead the MAAC in eight different statistical categories.
MANHATTAN VS MARIST ALL-TIME
Marist has won its last 13 meetings against the Lady Jaspers. Last season, the Red Foxes posted a 70-44 victory in Poughkeepsie and a 91-82 triumph at Draddy Gymnasium. The Lady Jaspers' last win over the Red Foxes was a 56-42 triumph on Jan. 9, 2004. Manhattan hasn't won in Poughkeepsie since its 2002-03 MAAC championship season. Manhattan holds a 21-16 edge in the all-time series.
MANHATTAN 55, NIAGARA 53
Michelle Pacheco's 15-foot jumper as time expired gave Manhattan a 55-53 victory over Niagara at Draddy Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. Niagara had tied it at 53-53 with 30.1 seconds remaining, then, after each team took a timeout, the Lady Jaspers held for a final shot. Pacheco released just before the buzzer sounded, and the shot was nothing but net, giving Manhattan its third straight win. After Niagara led for much of the early going, an 8-0 Manhattan run gave the Lady Jaspers an advantage that they would carry into the locker room, 36-28. Manhattan pushed its lead to 10 early in the second half before the Purple Eagles stormed back to tie the score. Lindsey Loutsenhizer led the Lady Jaspers with 18 points and eight rebounds. Abby Wentworth added nine points and five boards.