Manhattan-VCU Game Notes
Game 8: Manhattan Jaspers (1-6) at VCU Rams (8-1)
Wednesday, December 18, 2013-11 a.m.
Richmond, Va.-Verizon Wireless Arena (7,617)
Video: Atlantic 10 All-Access
Audio: www.vcuathletics.com
JASPERS VS. RAMS
After a 12-day break for finals, the Jaspers (1-6) return to action this morning against VCU (8-1) at Verizon Wireless Arena. Manhattan hasn't played since a 75-61 loss at Oakland on Dec. 6 and is looking to snap a six-game losing streak. VCU has won eight straight, including a 76-75 victory over Cleveland State on Sunday afternoon. This is the final non-conference road game on Manhattan's 2013-14 schedule. The Jaspers take on another set of Rams from the Atlantic 10, rival Fordham, at Draddy Gymnasium on Saturday night.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
Manhattan (1-6) returns to action after its longest break of the season looking to snap a six-game losing streak. The Jaspers have had 12 days off since a 75-61 loss at Oakland on Dec. 6. Freshman center Kayla Grimme had her third straight double-double against the Golden Grizzlies. She leads the Jaspers with 7.6 rebounds per game and also ranks second on the team in scoring (10.7 ppg). Senior guard Monica Roeder is the team leader with 11.6 points per game. She also ranks second on the squad with 4.7 boards a night and third with 2.3 assists per contest. Junior guard Nicole Isaacs, meanwhile, tallies 10.4 points per outing. Senior guard Allison Skrec adds 7.1 points a night to go along with a team-best 5.3 assists per contest, while junior forward Ashley Stec also notches 7.1 points per game. This is the final road game on Manhattan's non-conference schedule. The Jaspers will wrap up their non-conference slate by hosting rival Fordham in the annual “Battle of the Bronx” on Saturday night.
ABOUT VCU
VCU (8-1) has won seven straight games since suffering its only loss of the season at Ohio State on Nov. 14. The Rams are coming off a 76-75 victory over Cleveland State on Sunday. Senior forward Robyn Parks is averaging a double-double this season. She's tied for 24th nationally in scoring (21.9 ppg) and is tied for 33rd place in the NCAA with 10.4 rebounds per game. Parks also records a team-best 2.6 steals per contest. Freshman guard Isis Thorpe tallies 14.6 points per game and sinks 2.9 three-pointers a night. Freshman guard Keira Robinson, meanwhile, notches 11.0 points an outing to go along with 2.4 steals and a team-leading 5.6 assists per contest. Sophomore guard Jessica Pellechio adds 10.0 points per game and sophomore guard/forward Adaeze Alaeze contributes 8.0 points per outing for the Rams, who score 80.3 points a night as a team. VCU concludes its three-game homestand with a matchup against Florida A&M on Sunday afternoon.
SERIES HISTORY
The Jaspers and Rams have met just twice before. Manhattan's 68-63 victory last season in Riverdale evened the all-time series at 1-1. In the only other previous meeting, VCU recorded a 77-62 triumph in Richmond on Nov. 29, 1986. The last time the Jaspers played a game in the State of Virginia, they dropped an 86-68 decision against No. 14/18 Virginia on Nov. 15, 2009.
OAKLAND 75, MANHATTAN 61
The Jaspers battled back from a 19-point second half deficit to pull within nine against Oakland on Dec. 6, but the comeback effort came up just short in a 75-61 loss to the Golden Grizzlies at the Athletics Center O'rena. Manhattan held an early 15-10 lead before Oakland went on a 9-2 rally to go in front. Oakland led 28-23 at halftime, then outscored the Jaspers 15-4 over the first three minutes of the second half to extend its advantage to 43-27. After the Golden Grizzlies opened up a game-high 61-42 advantage with 9:19 left, the Jaspers used a 17-7 run to pull within nine, 68-59. However, it would get no closer, as Oakland held on for the 75-61 victory. Kayla Grimme had her third straight double-double, notching 16 points and 10 rebounds. Allison Skrec and Nicole Isaacs added 12 points apiece, while Ashley Stec grabbed eight rebounds.
