Manhattan-Canisius Game Notes
GAME #12: CANISIUS GOLDEN GRIFFINS (4-7, 2-0 MAAC) AT MANHATTAN JASPERS (1-10, 0-2 MAAC)
Friday, January 2, 2015-7 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: JasperVision, MAAC.tv
Audio: www.gojaspers.com
GAME INFORMATION
The Jaspers (1-10, 0-2 MAAC) begin 2015 with a matchup against Canisius (4-7, 2-0 MAAC) at Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan, which is looking to snap a nine-game losing streak, concluded non-conference play with a 58-54 loss to New Hampshire on Sunday afternoon. Canisius, meanwhile, dropped a 72-55 decision to Buffalo on Monday. After winning four straight, the Griffs enter the contest on a four-game losing streak. Canisius posted a 55-44 victory over Manhattan in Buffalo on Dec. 5 in each team's MAAC opener.
THE JASPERS
Manhattan (1-10, 0-2 MAAC) resumes conference play looking to halt a nine-game skid. The nine-game losing streak is tied for the longest in program history. Manhattan previously lost nine in a row from Dec. 10, 2006-Jan. 16, 2007. In their latest outing, the Jaspers suffered a 58-54 defeat against New Hampshire on Sunday. Junior forward Shayna Ericksen paces the team in both scoring and rebounding. She averages 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Ericksen also tallies 1.0 steals per contest and ranks fourth in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.512). Freshman guard Nyasha Irizarry notches 8.5 points per outing and leads the squad with 1.7 three-pointers a night. She's also second on the team with 2.5 assists per game. Junior guard Jacqui Thompson hands out a team-leading 2.6 assists per contest. The Jaspers continue their eight-game homestand by welcoming Rider (3-9, 0-2 MAAC) to Draddy Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon.
THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS
After winning four straight, Canisius (4-7, 2-0 MAAC) has since dropped four in a row. The Griffs are coming off a 72-55 loss to Buffalo on Monday. Senior guard Kayla Hoohuli leads three Griffs averaging in double-figures with 11.3 points per game. She also drains a team-high 2.0 three-pointers per contest. Junior guard Tiahana Mills tallies 11.0 points per outing to go along with a team-high 2.4 assists a night. Hoohuli ranks third in the MAAC with 1.9 steals per game, while Mills in tied for fifth in the league with 1.6 steals per outing. Junior forward Crystal Porter, meanwhile, notches 10.4 points and a squad-best 5.5 rebounds per game. She also averages 1.3 blocks per contest. Along with junior forward Jasmine Mungo and junior guard Emily Weber, who paces the MAAC in three-point percentage (.455), that trio has started every game this season for the Griffs. Canisius returns to action at Iona (4-7, 1-1 MAAC) on Sunday.
MANHATTAN VS. CANISIUS ALL-TIME
Canisius posted a 55-44 victory over the Jaspers when the teams met in Buffalo on Dec. 5 and leads the all-time series 30-25. That loss snapped Manhattan's two-game winning streak in the series, and the Jaspers have beaten Canisius in eight of the las t10 meetings. The Jaspers haven't lost to the Griffs at Draddy Gymnasium since Jan. 9, 2009, a span of five straight games. Last season, Manhattan began conference play with a 72-56 home win over Canisius on Dec. 29, 2013.
LAST GAME
On Sunday, the Jaspers built a 13-point halftime lead on New Hampshire before seeing the Wildcats come back for a 58-54 victory at Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan ended the first half on a 10-0 run to turn a 19-16 advantage into a 29-16 halftime lead. However, New Hampshire went on a 19-5 rally midway through the second half to go ahead 40-38. The Jaspers went back in front on a Maeve Parahus three-pointer, but the Wildcats immediately regained the lead. New Hampshire extended the margin to as many as eight points before holding on for a 58-54 triumph. Nyasha Irizarry paced the Jaspers with 13 points and tied a career-high with six assists, while Parahus and Shayna Ericksen tallied 11 points apiece. Kylla Champagne added seven points and matched a career-high with eight rebounds.