Manhattan-Fairleigh Dickinson Game Notes
GAME #1: FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON KNIGHTS (0-0) AT MANHATTAN JASPERS (0-0)
Friday, November 14, 2014-7 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,345)
Video: JasperVision HD
Audio: www.gojaspers.com
GAME INFORMATION
The Jaspers (0-0) open the 2014-15 campaign by hosting Fairleigh Dickinson (0-0) at Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan is coming off a 9-21 season, while Fairleigh Dickinson posted a 3-26 record in 2013-14. The Jaspers were picked seventh in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll, and junior forward Shayna Ericksen earned a Preseason Third Team All-MAAC nod. Fairleigh Dickinson, meanwhile, tied for the ninth spot in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll. Up next, Manhattan plays its first road game of the season at Holy Cross (0-0) on Sunday afternoon.
THE JASPERS
Manhattan (0-0) opens the season against Fairleigh Dickinson for the second straight year. The Jaspers went 9-21 last season and were picked to finish seventh in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Poll. Junior forward Shayna Ericksen was a Preseason Third Team All-MAAC selection. She tallied 9.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while ranking third in the MAAC with a .511 field goal percentage last season. Ericksen was Manhattan's leading scorer during a four-game preseason trip to Canada. Freshman center Kayla Grimme averaged 9.9 points and 7.1 rebounds in eight games before missing the rest of the 2013-14 campaign due to injury. Junior guard Jacqui Thompson, meanwhile, will make her Manhattan debut this evening after sitting out last season while transferring from Wagner. She averaged 3.3 assists per outing for the Seahawks in 2012-13. The Jaspers play their first road game of the season at Holy Cross on Sunday afternoon.
THE KNIGHTS
Fairleigh Dickinson (0-0) is coming off a 3-26 campaign in 2013-14. Junior guard Kelsey Cruz led the Knights in scoring last season, averaging 15.1 points per game. Junior forward Brianna Thomas, meanwhile, contributed 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per outing in 2013-14. She also sank a team-high 1.4 three-pointers per contest last year. Senior guard Amanda Andrades tallied 9.4 points and a team-best 4.4 assists per contest last season, and sophomore forward Anastasia Williams is Fairleigh Dickinson's top returning rebounder. She pulled down 7.8 boards a night last year. The Knights also welcome back junior center Erika Livermore, who was a first team All-Northeast Conference selection in 2012-13 before missing all of last season with an injury. Fairleigh Dickinson, which was picked ninth in the NEC Preseason Poll, defeated FDU Florham 85-77 in an exhibition game last Friday. The Knights open their home schedule against NJIT on Wednesday night.
MANHATTAN VS. FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON ALL-TIME
Manhattan and Fairleigh Dickinson are meeting for the third straight season and the 19th time in program history. The Jaspers lead the all-time series 12-6, including a 73-63 victory in the 2013-14 season opener. The last time the two sides met at Draddy Gymnasium, Fairleigh Dickinson posted a 53-47 triumph on Nov. 25, 2013. The Jaspers haven't beaten the Knights at home since notching a 70-61 win on Nov. 13, 2006.
OPENING ACT
The Jaspers snapped a two-game losing streak in season openers with last season's 73-63 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson in New Jersey. Manhattan is opening the season against the Knights for the second straight season and the fifth time overall. The Jaspers began the season against the Knights four times in six years from 1991-92 to 1996-97, going 2-2 in those games. Overall, Manhattan is 19-17 all-time in season openers.
DRADDY DEBUT
Manhattan is looking to snap a four-game losing streak in home openers. The last time the Jaspers earned a victory in their first game at Draddy Gymnasium was on Nov. 13, 2009, when they recorded a 71-34 triumph over St. Francis Brooklyn in John Olenowski's first game as head coach. Overall, the Jaspers are 21-13 in their last 34 home openers dating back to the 1980-81 campaign.
