Manhattan-Ohio Game Notes
GAME #5: MANHATTAN JASPERS (1-3) AT OHIO BOBCATS (4-0)
Sunday, November 30, 2014-2 p.m.
Athens, Ohio-Convocation Center (13,050)
Video: OhioBobcats.com
Audio: www.ohiobobcats.com
GAME INFORMATION
The Jaspers (1-3) continue their season-long five-game road trip this afternoon against Ohio (4-0) at the Convocation Center. Manhattan, which is looking to snap a two-game skid, is coming off a 61-48 loss to La Salle on Tuesday. The Bobcats are off to their best start since the 2006-07 season. On Tuesday night, Ohio posted a 77-38 victory at Northern Kentucky. This is just the second all-time meeting between the Jaspers and Bobcats, and the first in Ohio. Manhattan's next game is the MAAC opener at Canisius on Friday night.
THE JASPERS
Manhattan (1-3) is looking to rebound after suffering its second straight defeat, a 61-48 loss to La Salle, on Tuesday afternoon. Junior forward Shayna Ericksen just missed posting her third double-double of the season against La Salle. She leads the Jaspers with 10.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Nyasha Irizarry, meanwhile, tallies 9.3 points per contest, and her 1.5 three-pointers per outing are a team-high. Irizarry and junior guard Jacqui Thompson are the only two Jaspers who've started every game so far this season. Thompson paces the squad with 4.0 assists a night. Freshman center Kayla Grimme, meanwhile, averages 6.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest to go along with a team-leading 1.5 blocks per game. For the first time since the 2008-09 campaign, the Jaspers have a pair of Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) games in early December. Manhattan begins its conference schedule by visiting Canisius on Friday night.
THE BOBCATS
Ohio (4-0), which is off to its best start in nine seasons, registered a 77-38 victory at Northern Kentucky on Tuesday. Junior guard Kiyalla Black paces the Bobcats in scoring, notching 20.3 points per game. She also records 5.8 rebounds and a team-high 2.8 steals per outing. Sophomore guard Quiera Lampkins tallies 16.5 points and a squad-best 9.0 boards per contest, while junior forward Lexie Baldwin contributes 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds a night. Sophomore forward Jasmine Weatherspoon, meanwhile, pulls down 8.0 rebounds per contest off the bench. Sophomore guard Yamonie Jenkins distributes 4.3 assists per outing, and freshman forward Kelly Karlis paces the Bobcats with 2.5 blocks a night. As a team, Ohio drains 11.5 three-pointers per game, and four different Bobcats are shooting at least .500 from long range. This is the start of a four-game homestand for the Bobcats, who welcome Morehead State to the Convocation Center on Tuesday.
MANHATTAN VS. OHIO ALL-TIME
Manhattan has faced Ohio one other time in program history. The Jaspers defeated the Bobcats 58-49 at Draddy Gymnasium on Dec. 19, 2012. That also marked the last time the Jaspers faced a member of the Mid-American Conference. Manhattan is 4-4 all-time against MAC opponents. The Jaspers' only previous visit to the State of Ohio was a 75-73 win at Wright State in the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational.
LAST GAME
On Tuesday afternoon, the Jaspers suffered a 61-48 loss at La Salle. The Explorers scored the first seven points of the game and led 12-2 before Manhattan went on an 8-0 run to pull within two, 12-10. Leading 20-17, La Salle ended the first half on a 9-2 run to take a 10-point, 29-19, advantage into the locker room. After the Jaspers trimmed their deficit to six early in the second half, the Explorers responded with an 11-0 rally to open up their largest lead of the game, 42-26. Manhattan got within seven at 45-38, but could pull no closer, as La Salle pulled away for a 61-48 triumph. Kayla Grimme recorded a double-double for Manhattan, finishing with 10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Shayna Ericksen just missed a double-double of her own, notching 10 points and nine boards.