Manhattan-Siena Game Notes
Game 20: Manhattan Jaspers (4-15, 3-7 MAAC) at Siena Saints (6-13, 1-9 MAAC)
Thursday, January 30, 2013-6:00 p.m.
Albany, N.Y.-Times Union Center (8,444)
Video: ESPN3 (Dean Darling and Mitch Buonaguro)
Audio: www.sienasaints.com
JASPERS VS. SAINTS
Manhattan (4-15, 3-7 MAAC) looks to snap a three-game losing streak this evening against Siena (6-13, 1-9 MAAC) at the Times Union Center in a contest that will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3. The Jaspers, who have dropped seven of their last eight, are coming off a 75-70 loss at Monmouth on Sunday afternoon. The Saints, meanwhile, have lost seven straight since defeating Manhattan, 82-58, at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 4. Siena lost to Canisius by a 75-66 count on Sunday. This evening's contest ends a span where Manhattan played five out of six on the road.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
The Jaspers (4-15, 3-7 MAAC), who have lost seven of their last eight, are looking to snap a three-game skid. Manhattan dropped a 75-70 decision at Monmouth on Sunday afternoon. Senior guard Monica Roeder had her eighth career 20-point game agaisnt Monmouth. She leads the Jaspers with 12.5 points per game while also pulling down 4.5 rebounds per contest. Senior guard Allison Skrec, meanwhile, notched her first career double-double by matching a career-best with 10 assists against Monmouth. Skrec averages 8.7 points per outing and ranks second in the MAAC with 5.5 assists a night. Sophomore forward Shayna Ericksen posts 9.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. She's also fifth in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.531). After playing five out of six on the road, Manhattan begins a three-game homestand on Saturday, when Rider visits Draddy Gymnasium. It will be “Alumni Day,” as more than 25 former Manhattan stars are expected to be in attendance.
ABOUT SIENA
Siena (6-13, 1-9 MAAC) has dropped seven straight since picking up its only MAAC win of the season, 82-58, at Manhattan on Jan. 4. Most recently, the Saints were defeated by Canisius, 75-66, on Sunday afternoon. Junior guard Tehresa Coles paces Siena in both scoring and rebounding. She averages 10.0 points and 6.2 boards per contest. Coles is also tied for the team lead in assists (2.1 per game) and records a team-high 1.9 steals a night. Senior guard Kanika Cummings and freshman forward Meghan Donohue both record 8.6 points per outing, and Donohue also grabs 5.6 rebounds per game. In addition, Donohue's .542 field goal percentage is the fourth-best mark in the MAAC. Junior forward Kelsey Booth adds 6.9 points per contest, and her 1.3 three-pointers a night are a team-high. Freshman guar Brianna Logan, meanwhile, is tied for the team lead with 2.1 assists per game. The Saints are in the midst of a four-game homestand. Iona visits the Alumni Recreation Center on Saturday.
SERIES HISTORY
The Saints notched an 82-58 victory over the Jaspers when the teams met at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 4. It was Siena's fifth straight win in the series, and the Saints own a 37-19 edge over the Jaspers all-time. Manhattan hasn't beaten Siena since a 56-53 triumph in Riverdale on Feb. 2, 2012. The Jaspers' last road win over the Saints was a 48-45 victory on Feb. 4, 2011. This marks the second straight year, and the third time in four seasons, that Manhattan is playing Siena at the Times Union Center.
MONMOUTH 75, MANHATTAN 70
Manhattan made a furious rally from 12 points down with 90 seconds left to pull within five before eventually running out of time in a 75-70 loss at Monmouth on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks led 73-61 with 1:33 to go before Ashley Stec's three-point play was immediately followed by a steal and layup from Blake Underhill. After the teams traded baskets, Nicole Anderson hit a pair of free throws to make it 75-70 with 16 seconds remaining. That would end up being the final score, as Manhattan dropped its third straight. The Jaspers led by nine, 28-19, at the 5:38 mark of the first half, but Monmouth went on a 15-2 run to take a 34-30 edge into the locker room. Monica Roeder paced the Jaspers with 20 points, while Allison Skrec matched a career-high with 10 assists and added 14 points for her first career double-double.