Manhattan-Rider Game Notes
GAME #13: RIDER BRONCS (3-10, 0-3 MAAC) AT MANHATTAN JASPERS (1-11, 0-3 MAAC)
Sunday, January 4, 2015-2 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: JasperVision, MAAC.tv
Audio: www.gojaspers.com, www.gobroncs.com
GAME INFORMATION
Manhattan (1-11, 0-3 MAAC) continues its eight-game homestand by welcoming Rider (3-10, 0-3 MAAC) to Draddy Gymnasium this afternoon. The Jaspers are looking to snap a 10-game losing streak, which is the longest skid in program history. On Friday night, Manhattan dropped a 56-45 decision to Canisius. Rider, meanwhile, has lost three straight and six of its last seven. The Broncs are coming off a 50-49 loss at Saint Peter's on Friday. Manhattan and Siena are currently tied with Siena for ninth place in the MAAC standings.
THE JASPERS
The Jaspers (1-11, 0-3 MAAC) have suffered a school-record 10 consecutive losses and sit at 0-3 in the MAAC for the first time since dropping their first six conference games in 1996-97. In its last outing, Manhattan fell to Canisius by a 56-45 count on Friday night. Junior forward Shayna Ericksen leads the Jaspers in scoring and ranks second on the squad in rebounding. She averages 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Ericksen is also fourth in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.489). Freshman guard Nyasha Irizarry tallies 7.8 points per contest to go along with 2.5 assists per outing, while freshman center Kayla Grimme posts 6.1 points and a team-high 6.6 rebounds a night. She ranks second in the MAAC in blocks, averaging 1.9 per game. Junior guard Jacqui Thompson hands out a team-high 2.6 assists per contest. Manhattan continues its eight-game homestand on Friday night, when Iona (5-7, 2-1 MAAC) visits Draddy Gymnasium.
THE BRONCS
Rider (3-10, 0-3 MAAC) suffered its third straight loss on Friday afternoon, dropping a 50-49 decision at Saint Peter's. The Broncs have lost six of their last seven overall. Sophomore guard Robin Perkins, a transfer from Saint Francis (PA), in Rider's leading scorer. She tallies 11.8 points per game. Sophomore center Julia Duggan, meanwhile, averages 8.9 points per contest and ranks second in the MAAC with 8.1 rebounds per outing. Junior guard Emily Fazzini adds 8.8 points per game, and she's the Broncs' top three-point threat with 1.3 treys a night. Senior forward/center Marritta Gillcrease is among the MAAC leaders in both rebounding and blocks. Her 1.7 blocks per contest are fourth in the conference, while she ranks fifth with 6.8 boards per outing. Junior guard Manon Pellet distributes 3.2 assists per game to lead the squad. Up next, Rider hosts Monmouth (5-7, 1-2 MAAC) on Thursday afternoon.
MANHATTAN VS. RIDER ALL-TIME
This is the 39th all-time meeting between the Jaspers and Broncs, with Manhattan leading the series 27-11. Rider has won three of the last four matchups, however, including two straight at Draddy Gymnasium. The Jaspers haven't beaten the Broncs at home since a 59-45 triumph on Jan. 2, 2012. Last season, the road team won each game. Manhattan posted a 50-47 victory in Lawrenceville on Jan. 16, 2014, while Rider took the rematch, 73-56, in Riverdale on Feb. 1, 2014.
LAST GAME
The Jaspers began 2015 with a 56-45 loss to Canisius at Draddy Gymnasium on Friday night. The Griffs led 12-9 midway through the first half before Maeve Parahus sank back-to-back three-pointers to put Manhattan in front, 15-12. However, Canisius ended the half on a 10-2 rally and took a 22-17 lead into the locker room. The Griffs extended the margin to nine points at 28-19, but Manhattan responded with an 11-2 run to tie the score at 30-30. After Canisius went back in front 38-32, a Parahus trey got the Jaspers within three, 38-35, with 7:29 left. Manhattan would get no closer, though, as the Griffs handed the Jaspers their program-record 10th straight loss, 56-45. Parahus drained four treys and finished with a team-high 12 points, while Shayna Ericksen had nine points and Ashley Stec grabbed seven rebounds.
RIDER CONNECTIONS
Manhattan assistant coach Christine Sikiric, then known as Catalanotto, graduated from Rider in 2005 and started 56 of 57 career appearances in two seasons with the Broncs, averaging 6.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and a team-high 3.3 assists per game. Meanwhile, assistant coach Brianna Griffin's husband, John, is an assistant for the Rider men's team.