Game 29: Marist Red Foxes (23-6, 15-2 MAAC) at Manhattan Lady Jaspers (14-14, 9-8 MAAC)
Sunday, February 28, 2010-2 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,345)
TV: None
Radio/Internet: JasperVision (gojaspers.com), goredfoxes.com
TODAY'S GAME
Manhattan (14-14, 9-8 MAAC) wraps up the 2009-10 regular season this afternoon with a matchup against MAAC regular season champion Marist (23-6, 15-2 MAAC). The Lady Jaspers have dropped three out of four, including a 45-41 setback against Loyola on Friday. Marist enters the game on a five-game winning streak, including a 72-70 overtime victory at Iona on Friday night. Today is "Senior Day," as senior guard Michelle Pacheco will be honored prior to the game.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
The Lady Jaspers (14-14, 9-8 MAAC) look to wrap up either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in next weekend's MAAC Tournament with a win this afternoon. Manhattan is coming off a 45-41 loss to Loyola on Friday, the team's third loss in its last four games. Sophomore forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer is the Lady Jaspers' top scorer and rebounder. She averages 15.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Loutsenhizer ranks second in the MAAC with a field goal percentage of .473. In conference games, Loutsenhizer is averaging 17.7 points and 6.5 boards per contest. Senior guard Michelle Pacheco is playing her final home game in a Manhattan uniform this afternoon. Pacheco currently ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.9 points per game. She leads the MAAC in assists (5.0 apg) and ranks second in the league in steals (2.8 spg). Sophomore forward Nadia Peters ranks second in the MAAC with 1.6 blocked shots per game.
ABOUT MARIST
Marist (23-6, 15-2 MAAC) clinched its sixth consecutive MAAC regular season title with a 72-70 overtime victory at Iona on Friday night. The Red Foxes enter today's contest on a five-game winning streak. Senior forward Rachele Fitz, the two-time defending MAAC Player of the Year, leads the MAAC in scoring (18.1 ppg), field goal percentage (.572) and free throw percentage (.877). She also pulls down a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game. Junior guard Erica Allenspach averages 13.8 points per game to go along with a team-leading 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Allenspach is also the MAAC leader in three-point percentage, shooting .437 from beyond the arc. Sophomore guard Corielle Yarde contributes 13.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Freshman forward Kate Oliver leads the team with 1.1 blocked shots per game. As a team, Marist leads the MAAC in eight different statistical categories.
MANHATTAN VS MARIST ALL-TIME
Manhattan holds a 21-17 edge in the all-time series, but Marist has won the last 14 games between the schools. Two weeks ago in Poughkeepsie, Manhattan kept it close most of the game before Marist pulled away late for a 55-44 victory. The Lady Jaspers' last victory over the Red Foxes was a 56-42 triumph at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 9, 2004.
LOYOLA 45, MANHATTAN 41
In a tightly contested defensive battle, Loyola posted a 45-41 victory over the Lady Jaspers at Draddy Gymnasium on Friday evening. The Greyhounds took a 41-39 lead with 1:16 to go, then extended their advantage to five points on a trey by Katie Sheahin with 39 seconds remaining. Lindsey Loutsenhizer drove in for a layup to make it a one-possession game with 18 seconds left, but Sheahin went 1-for-2 at the line to close out Loyola's victory. Manhattan trailed by five late in the first half before going on a 6-0 run over the final 1:29 of the period to take a 22-21 advantage into the locker room. Loutsenhizer finished just shy of a double-double, notching team-highs with 21 points and nine rebounds. Michelle Pacheco and Abby Wentworth each added eight points.
SENIOR DAY
Senior guard Michelle Pacheco will be honored prior to this afternoon's game in recognition of her four years of service to the Manhattan women's basketball program. Pacheco is one of just seven players in program history with over 300 career assists.
TOURNAMENT SCENARIOS
Manhattan has clinched a first-round bye in next weekend's MAAC Tournament, and will be seeded anywhere from No. 3 to No. 6. The Lady Jaspers are guaranteed at least the No. 4 seed with a win this afternoon, while Manhattan locks up the No. 3 seed with a victory and a Fairfield loss at Canisius. Manhattan falls to either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed with a loss today. The Lady Jaspers can only drop to No. 6 if they lose and Niagara beats Saint Peter's. The Lady Jaspers' opponent is also still to be determined, as Manhattan will take on one of four possible teams in the quarterfinals. Manhattan's quarterfinal game will be at either 11:30 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. on Friday.
