Manhattan-Fairleigh Dickinson Game Notes
GAME 1: Manhattan Jaspers (0-0) at Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (0-0)
Saturday, November 14, 2015-2 p.m.
Hackensack, NJ-Stratis Arena (3,000)
Video: NEC Front Row
Live Stats
JASPERS GAMEDAY
Manhattan (0-0) kicks off the 2015-16 season on the road with a matchup against Fairleigh Dickinson (0-0) at Stratis Arena. This is the third straight year in which the Jaspers are opening up against the Knights, with the road team winning each of the previous two matchups. Manhattan, which picked up a 101-68 exhibition victory over Felician on Nov. 7, was picked to finish seventh in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Poll. Coming off a 10-20 campaign, Fairleigh Dickinson was picked to finish fourth in the Northeast Conference this season.
MANHATTAN BREAKDOWN
The Jaspers (0-0), who were picked seventh in the MAAC Preseason Poll, open the 2015-16 season by visiting Fairleigh Dickinson this afternoon. Last Saturday, Manhattan knocked off Felician in an exhibition game by a 101-68 count. Senior Shayna Ericksen was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Third Team. She averaged 9.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game last season to lead the Jaspers in both categories. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme tallied 7.8 points and 6.0 boards per contest in 2014-15, while sophomore guard Taylor Williams added 7.7 points per outing. Senior guard Blake Underhill, meanwhile, paced Manhattan with 3.4 assists a night last season. The Jaspers, who return 12 letterwinners from last year's team, also welcome a pair of transfers from James Madison--senior center Crystal Ross and sophomore point guard Amani Tatum. Manhattan's home opener will be on Wednesday night against rival Fordham in the “Battle of the Bronx.”
FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON BREAKDOWN
After going 10-20 last season, Fairleigh Dickinson (0-0) was picked fourth in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll, its highest preseason ranking since 1993-94. Senior center Erika Livermore, the 2014-15 NEC Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 18.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game last season and was named First Team All-NEC. Senior Kelsey Cruz earned Second Team All-NEC honors after tallying 18.1 points per contest in 2014-15. Junior guard Kiana Brown's 1.7 assists per outing last season were the most among returners. She also contributed 5.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Senior forward Brianna Thomas, meanwhile, notched 5.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in six games before missing the rest of the season with an injury. The Knights begin a six-game road trip with a visit to No. 20/22 North Carolina on Friday. That will be Fairleigh Dickinson's first game of the Hall of Fame Classic, which also includes matchups with Yale and Iona.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Jaspers and Knights are squaring off for the fourth consecutive year, and facing each other in the season opener for the third straight time. Fairleigh Dickinson won last year's matchup, 73-54, at Draddy Gymnasium. Overall, this is the 20th meeting between the schools, and Manhattan leads the all-time series 12-7. The Jaspers' last win over the Knights was a 73-63 triumph at Stratis Arena on Nov. 10, 2014.
OPENING ACT
This is the third consecutive year in which Manhattan is facing Fairleigh Dickinson in the season opener. The road team has won each of the previous two contests. The Jaspers notched a 73-63 victory in New Jersey in 2013, while the Knights earned a 73-54 triumph at Draddy Gymnasium last season. Overall, this is the sixth time that Manhattan is opening the season against Fairleigh Dickinson, with the Knights holding a 3-2 edge in those games. This is the 38th season of women's basketball at Manhattan, and the Jaspers are 19-18 all-time in their opening game.