Manhattan-Monmouth Game Notes
GAME #16: MONMOUTH HAWKS (6-9, 2-4 MAAC) AT MANHATTAN JASPERS (2-13, 1-5 MAAC)
Friday, January 16, 2015-7 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: JasperVision, MAAC.tv
Audio: www.gojaspers.com, www.monmouthhawks.com
GAME INFORMATION
Tonight's contest against Monmouth (6-9, 2-4 MAAC) marks the end of a school-record eight-game homestand for the Jaspers (2-13, 1-5 MAAC). Manhattan has dropped two straight, including a 67-45 loss to Marist on Monday. The Hawks also fell to Marist in their last game, suffering a 63-60 defeat on Saturday afternoon. Both the Jaspers and Hawks have knocked off Rider this season, while Monmouth also has a double-overtime victory over Iona. Manhattan plays its first road game in more than a month at first-place Quinnipiac on Sunday.
THE JASPERS
Manhattan (2-13, 1-5 MAAC) wraps up its eight-game homestand looking to snap a two-game skid. In their last outing, the Jaspers dropped a 67-45 decision to Marist on Monday. Junior forward Shayna Ericksen recorded her second straight double-double and fifth of the season against Marist. She leads the team with 10.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Nyasha Irizarry contributes 8.4 points and a team-best 2.7 assists per contest. Irizarry and sophomore guard Maeve Parahus are tied for the team lead in three-pointers. They both drain 1.7 treys per game. Freshman center Kayla Grimme, meanwhile, tallies 6.2 points and 6.2 boards per outing to go along with 2.0 blocks a night, which places her second in the MAAC in that category. After playing eight straight at Draddy Gymnasium, the Jaspers hit the road for the first time since Dec. 14 on Sunday afternoon, when they visit first-place Quinnipiac (14-3, 6-0 MAAC).
THE HAWKS
Monmouth (6-9, 2-4 MAAC) suffered a 63-60 home loss to Marist on Saturday afternoon and has dropped five of its last six games. Junior guard/forward Sarah Olson paces the Hawks in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per game. She also sinks 3.1 three-pointers per contest and is shooting .378 from beyond the arc. Sophomore forward/guard Jenny Horvatinovic contributes 10.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per outing, while sophomore guard Helena Kurt tallies 9.7 points a night to go along with a team-best 4.7 assists per game. Junior guard Jasmine Walker, meanwhile, registers 7.4 points and a team-best 1.5 steals per contest. Sophomore forward Christina Mitchell is Monmouth's leading rebounder. She pulls down 7.1 boards per contest. Senior forward Sara English, meanwhile, grabs 5.3 rebounds a night. The Hawks, who have already completed the season series with both Marist and Iona, begin a four-game homestand against Niagara (7-8, 3-3 MAAC) on Sunday.
MANHATTAN VS. MONMOUTH ALL-TIME
The Jaspers and Hawks split the season series in 2013-14, Monmouth's first year in the MAAC. Manhattan notched a 65-59 victory at Draddy Gymnasium on Dec. 31, 2013, and the Hawks picked up a 75-70 win in the rematch in New Jersey on Jan. 26, 2014. The home team has won the last four games in the series, which included non-conference tilts in both 2011-12 and 2012-13. Overall, Manhattan has a 9-7 lead in the all-time series.
LAST GAME
On “Kid's Day Out” at Draddy Gymnaisum, Manhattan suffered a 67-45 loss to nine-time defending MAAC champion Marist on Monday. After Marist jumped out to an 8-2 lead, the Jaspers responded with a 13-6 run to pull within one, 14-13. However, the Red Foxes scored the next 13 points to open up a 29-13 margin, and Marist led 33-20 at halftime. Nyasha Irizarry sank a three-pointer to cut Manhattan's deficit to 10 on the opening possession of the second half, but the Jaspers would get no closer. The Red Foxes extended their advantage to as many as 27 points before Manhattan scored the final five points of the 67-45 loss. Shayna Ericksen had her second consecutive double-double for the Jaspers, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Kayla Grimme, meanwhile, had nine points and five boards to go along with a career-high five blocks.
