Manhattan-Niagara Game Notes
Game 25: Manhattan Jaspers (7-17, 6-9 MAAC) at Niagara Purple Eagles (8-16, 6-9 MAAC)
Saturday, February 15, 2014-4:00 p.m.
Niagara University, N.Y.-Gallagher Center (2,100)
Video: Purple Eagles Network
Audio: www.purpleeagles.com
JASPERS VS. PURPLE EAGLES
The Jaspers (7-17, 6-9 MAAC) continue their three-game road trip this afternoon at the Gallagher Center against Niagara (8-16, 6-9 MAAC). Manhattan is coming off a 52-44 win at Canisius on Thursday night and is looking to sweep the Buffalo trip for the second time in school history (2010-11). Niagara snapped a three-game losing streak with a 65-57 victory over Siena on Thursday night. The Jaspers and Purple Eagles are currently tied for sixth place in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) standings.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
After posting a 52-44 victory at Canisius on Thursday night, Manhattan (7-17, 6-9 MAAC) looks to sweep the Buffalo trip for the second time in program history. Senior guard Monica Roeder, who moved into seven-place on Manhattan's all-time scoring list against Canisius, paces the Jaspers with 12.1 points per game. She also tallies 4.6 rebounds per contest and drains 2.0 three-pointers per outing. Sophomore forward Shayna Ericksen, meanwhile, notches 10.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while also ranking second in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.550). In addition, Ericksen is tied for third in the league with 1.9 steals a night. Senior guard Allison Skrec matched a career-high with 10 assists on Thursday night, and she ranks second in the MAAC with 5.8 assists per outing while also recording 9.3 points per game. The Jaspers return to action on Friday night, when they conclude their three-game road trip with a visit to Fairfield.
ABOUT NIAGARA
The Purple Eagles (8-16, 6-9 MAAC) had dropped three straight before picking up a 65-57 win over Siena on Thursday night. Junior guard Meghan McGuinness leads Niagara with 12.8 points per game, and her 2.7 three-pointers per contest are the third-most in the conference. McGuinness also paces the MAAC in free throw percentage (.941). Senior guard Chanel Johnson registers 12.5 points per outing to go along wiht a team-best 5.4 rebounds a night, while junior forward Val McQuade notches 9.5 points per game. Meanwhile, freshman forward Victoria Rampado contributes 8.3 points and 5.1 boards per contest, and junior forward Gabby Baldasare pulls down 4.8 rebounds per outing. Baldasare is also sixth in the MAAC in blocks (0.9 bpg). The Purple Eagles' team leader in assists is junior guard Kelly Van Leeuwen, who dishes out 4.1 helpers per game. Niagara begins its final road trip of the season with a visit to first-place Iona on Thursday.
SERIES HISTORY
Manhattan and Niagara are meeting for the 51st time, and the all-time series is currently knotted at 25-25. The Purple Eagles have won four of the last five matchups between the teams, including a 71-67 overtime decision at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 23. Manhattan's last win over Niagara was a 61-52 triumph in Riverdale on March 3, 2013. The Jaspers haven't beaten the Purple Eagles at the Gallagher Center since a 59-53 victory on Jan. 30, 2011.
MANHATTAN 52, CANISIUS 44
Manhattan used a strong defensive effort to notch a 52-44 victory over Canisius at the Koessler Athletic Center on Thursday night. The game was knotted at 15-15 midway through the first half before the Jaspers went on a 9-4 run to end the period and take a 24-19 lead into the locker room. Manhattan then used stifling defense to increase the margin early in the second half. The Jaspers held Canisius to one field goal and forced seven turnovers over the first 12 minutes of the period to open up a 42-23 advantage. Canisius chipped away at the margin from there, but the Jaspers' lead was too great and Manhattan held on for the 52-44 win. Shayna Ericksen tallied a game-high 13 points, while Nicole Isaacs had 11 points and Ashley Stec posted 10 points to go along with a game-high six rebounds. Allison Skrec, meanwhile, matched a career-high with 10 assists.
