Manhattan-Marist Game Notes
Game 27: Marist Red Foxes (21-6, 15-2 MAAC) at Manhattan Jaspers (8-18, 7-10 MAAC)
Sunday, February 23, 2014-2:00 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: JasperVision HD
Audio: www.gojaspers.com, www.goredfoxes.com
JASPERS VS. RED FOXES
Manhattan (8-18, 7-10 MAAC) begins the final week of the regular season this afternoon by welcoming eight-time defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champion Marist (21-6, 15-2 MAAC) to Draddy Gymnasium. The Jaspers had a two-game winning streak snapped with a 73-52 defeat at Fairfield on Friday night. The Red Foxes, meanwhile, have won three straight and 10 of 11. Marist knocked off Rider by a 79-51 count on Friday night. Manhattan is the only MAAC team to win a home game against Marist in the past four seasons.
ABOUT MANHATTAN
After playing three straight on the road, the Jaspers (8-18, 7-10 MAAC) return home for two of their final three contests. Manhattan had a two-game winning streak snapped with a 73-52 loss at Fairfield on Friday night. Senior guard Monica Roeder paces the Manhattan offense with an average of 12.1 points per game. She also notches 4.6 rebounds per contest. Senior guard Allison Skrec, meanwhile, notches 9.6 points per outing to go along with 5.9 assists a night, the second-highest mark in the MAAC and 21st-best total in the nation. Sophomore forward Shayna Ericksen adds 9.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, and she ranks third in the league in field goal percentage (.526). Ericksen is also the team leadre in steals (1.8 spg). Junior forward Ashley Stec, who has averaged 14.7 points over her last three outings, notches 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds a night. The Jaspers will play their final road game of the season on Wednesday night, when they visit Saint Peter's.
ABOUT MARIST
Eight-time defending MAAC champion Marist (21-6, 15-2 MAAC) is currently in second place. The Red Foxes have won three straight, including a 79-51 triumph at Rider on Friday night. All five of Marist's starters average in double-figures, led by senior forward Emma O'Connor's 13.8 points per game. She's also the team leader in rebounds (6.6 rpg) and ranks second on the squad in assists (2.6 apg). Sophomore guard/forward Madeline Blais drops 13.2 points a night while also leading the MAAC in three-point percentage (.482). Senior guard Leanne Ockenden contributes 12.0 points per contest, and she paces the Red Foxes with 1.9 three-pointers per outing. Senior guard Casey Dulin, meanwhile, hands out 4.7 assists a night to go along with 11.2 points per game. Sophomore guard Sydney Coffey adds 10.5 points and 2.5 assists per outing. Marist concludes its home schedule against Monmouth on Friday night before ending the regular season with a first-place showdown at Iona.
SERIES HISTORY
Marist has won the last four meetings between the teams and leads the all-time series 24-23. The Red Foxes posted a 70-46 victory over the Jaspers in Poughkeepsie on Jan. 3. In last season's meeting at Draddy Gymnasium, Marist notched a 60-39 win on Jan. 25, 2013. The Jaspers were the last conference team to win a home game against Marist, defeating the Red Foxes 48-44 on Feb. 4, 2012. Marist's previous MAAC road loss also came in Riverdale, 65-62, on Feb. 28, 2010.
FAIRFIELD 73, MANHATTAN 52
The Jaspers saw their two-game winning streak snapped with a 73-52 loss to Fairfield at Alumni Hall on Friday night. The contest was close early on, as Manhattan held a 15-12 lead midway through the first half. Fairfield eventually pulled in front 29-23 before an Ashley Stec layup with 50 seconds left before halftime made it a four-point game, 29-25, at the break. However, the Stags opened the second half on a 19-6 run to open up a 48-31 advantage. Fairfield eventually extended its lead to 21 points at 58-37 with 7:24 remaining before the Jaspers went on an 8-2 run to get back within 15 points, 60-45. That's as close as Manhattan would get, though, as Fairfield recorded a 73-52 triumph. Stec led Manhattan with 15 points, while Allison Skrec tallied 14 points and five assists. Monica Roeder finished with 10 points and a team-high five rebounds for the Jaspers.
