Manhattan-Holy Cross Game Notes
Game 6: Holy Cross Crusaders (4-0) at Manhattan Jaspers (1-4)
Sunday, December 1, 2013-2 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: JasperVision HD
Audio: www.gojaspers.com
JASPERS VS. CRUSADERS
The Jaspers (1-4) wrap up their three-game homestand with this afternoon's contest against Holy Cross (4-0) at Draddy Gymnasium. After winning its season opener, Manhattan has dropped four straight, including an 80-69 defeat against Delaware State on Tuesday. The Crusaders also last played on Tuesday, when they notched a 76-54 victory over Massachusetts. This is the second consecutive season in which the Jaspers are hosting the Crusaders. Manhattan hits the road again on Friday night, when the Jaspers visit Oakland.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
Manhattan (1-4) is looking to snap a four-game losing streak. The Jaspers are coming off an 80-69 defeat against Delaware State on Tuesday. Senior guard Monica Roeder leads the Jaspers in scoring with an average of 14.6 points per game, while also pulling down 5.0 rebounds per contest. Junior guard Nicole Isaacs notches 10.0 points per game, while freshman center Kayla Grimme, who had a double-double against Delaware State, registers 9.0 points per outing to go along with a team-best 6.6 boards a night. Grimme also records 1.2 blocks per contest. Junior forward Ashley Stec is averaging 15.5 points and 5.0 rebounds over her last two outings. She ranks fourth on the team with 7.4 points per game. Senior guard Allison Skrec, meanwhile, collects 7.2 points a night to go along with a team-leading 6.0 assists per contest. After playing three straight home games, the Jaspers hit the road for their next two, starting with a matchup at Oakland on Friday night.
ABOUT HOLY CROSS
Holy Cross (4-0) has won its first four games by an average of 22.5 points. The Crusaders are coming off a 76-54 victory over Massachusetts on Tuesday night. All five Holy Cross starters are averaging at least 9.5 points per game, led by senior guard Alex Smith's 17.5 assists a night. A Preseason All-Patriot League selection, she also leads the squad with 5.3 assists and 3.0 steals per outing. Sophomore forward Raquel Scott notches 17.3 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds per contest, while junior forward Emily Parker records 12.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a night. Senior guard Brisje Malone contributes 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while also distributing 4.8 assists per contest. Sophomore guard Lisa Mifsud, who tallies 9.5 points and 4.5 assists per game, leads the nation in free throw percentage (.923). As a team, Holy Cross distributes 23.3 assists per game, the second-best mark in the nation. Up next, the Crusaders begin a three-game homestand against Northeastern on Wednesday.
SERIES HISTORY
Manhattan is facing Holy Cross for the third straight season and the second consecutive year at Draddy Gymnasium. One year ago today, the Crusaders notched a 60-52 victory over the Jaspers, and Holy Cross leads the all-time series 11-8. Manhattan's last win over Holy Cross was a 78-63 triumph on March 18, 2012 in the quarterfinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational.
DELAWARE STATE 80, MANHATTAN 69
Ashley Stec tallied a career-high 17 points and Kayla Grimme had her first career double-double, but it wasn't enough for the Jaspers in an 80-69 loss to Delaware State at Draddy Gymnasium on Tuesday. Manhattan came back from a 20-8 deficit to pull within two, 30-28, with 2:51 left before halftime, but the Hornets ended the half on a 12-4 spurt to take a 42-32 lead into the locker room. The Jaspers stormed all the way back early in the second half, taking a 56-55 advantage, before Delaware State rallied for 10 straight points to regain the lead in an eventual 80-69 victory. Stec finished one rebound shy of her first career double-double, grabbing nine boards while also dishing out four assists. Grimme, meanwhile, notched 10 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Nicole Isaacs contributed 16 points, and Allison Skrec registered 13 points and five assists.
