Manhattan-Quinnipiac Game Notes
Game 15: Manhattan Jaspers (3-11, 2-3 MAAC) at Quinnipiac Bobcats (8-8, 3-3 MAAC)
Sunday, January 12, 2014-1:00 p.m.
Hamden, Conn.-TD Bank Sports Center (3,300)
Video: QU Tube (FREE)
Audio: www.quinnipiacbobcats.com
JASPERS VS. BOBCATS
The 2013-14 regular season reaches its halfway point, as the Jaspers (3-11, 2-3 MAAC) visit new Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) member Quinnipiac (8-8, 3-3 MAAC) for the first time as conference foes this afternoon at the TD Bank Sports Center. It also marks the beginning of a three-game road trip for Manhattan. The Jaspers suffered their third straight loss on Thursday, dropping a 58-49 decision to Fairfield. Quinnipiac, meanwhile, has lost two straight, including a 95-86 defeat at Iona on Thursday.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
Manhattan (3-11, 2-3 MAAC) begins a string where it plays five out of six on the road looking to snap a three-game skid. The Jaspers are coming off a 58-49 loss to Fairfield on Thursday. Senior guard Monica Roeder, who's 15 points away from moving into Manhattan's all-time Top 10, paces the Jaspers with 11.1 points per game. She also averages 4.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest. Sophomore forward Shayna Ericksen is the team's leading scorer (12.4 ppg) and rebounder (7.2 rpg) in MAAC games. Overall, she averages 9.9 points and 5.7 boards per outing while also leading the league in field goal percentage (.576). Senior guard Allison Skrec, meanwhile, hands out a team-best 4.9 assists per game to go along with 8.3 points a night. Junior guard Nicole Isaacs adds 7.8 points per contest and leads Manhattan with 2.2 three-pointers per outing. The Jaspers continue their three-game road trip with a matchup at Rider on Thursday.
ABOUT QUINNIPIAC
Quinnipiac (8-8, 3-3 MAAC) is looking to snap a two-game losing streak. After dropping a 72-71 decision at Iona, the Bobcats lost 95-86 at Iona on Thursday afternoon. Junior guard Jasmine Martin scored her 1,000th career point in the Iona game, and she paces Quinnipiac in scoring with an average of 14.7 points per game. Senior forward Brittany McQuain, meanwhile, registers close to a double-double every night. She records 13.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per outing. McQuain also leads the Bobcats with 1.9 steals per contest. Junior forward Samantha Gusatella adds 9.6 points and 5.9 rebounds a night, while junior guard Jillian Abshire is the MAAC leader in assists. Abshire hands out 6.8 assists per game to go along with 8.9 points per contest. Junior forward Nikoline Ostergaard tallies 7.2 points per game and senior forward Camryn Warner notches 7.1 points a night, as Quinnipiac averages 73.8 points per outing as a team. The Bobcats visit Saint Peter's on Thursday night.
SERIES HISTORY
Manhattan and Quinnipiac are meeting for the first time as conference opponents. The Jaspers have faced the Bobcats just twice previously, most recently on Dec. 2, 2006. Quinnipiac won that matchup, 59-54 at Draddy Gymnasium. The only other previous game between the Jaspers and Bobcats was a 66-58 Bobcats victory in Hamden on Dec. 18, 2005. Quinnipiac is the only opponent on the 2013-14 schedule that Manhattan has never beaten.
FAIRFIELD 58, MANHATTAN 49
On “Kid's Day Out” at Draddy Gymnasium, the Jaspers suffered a 58-49 loss to Fairfield on Thursday. After a back-and-forth first half, Manhattan held a 26-22 advantage at intermission. The Stags pulled within one at 28-27 early in the second half before an Allison Skrec layup started a 10-2 Manhattan rally that gave the Jaspers their largest lead of the game, a 38-29 advantage. However, Fairfield used a 9-1 spurt to get back within one. The Jaspers scored the next basket to regain a three-point edge before Fairfield went on a 16-0 run to open up a 13-point lead in an eventual 58-49 victory. Monica Roeder paced the Jaspers with 15 points, while Skrec added 14 points and Shayna Ericksen just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine boards. In addition, Blake Underhill notched a career-high eight rebounds in the game.
HOMECOMING QUEEN
Today's game represents homecoming for freshman guard Nicole Anderson. A Hamden native, Anderson led Hill Regional Career High School to consecutive state championships in 2010-11 and 2011-12, and she was the MVP of the 2011 Connecticut Class LL State Championship Game. A four-year starter, she twice earned all-state honorable mention recogniton.
