Manhattan-Fordham Game Notes
GAME 2: Fordham Rams (0-1) at Manhattan Jaspers (1-0)
Wednesday, November 18, 2015-7 p.m.
Riverdale, NY-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: Jasper Sports Network
Live Stats
JASPERS GAME NIGHT
After opening the season with an 85-78 victory at Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday afternoon, the Jaspers (1-0) play their first home game of the 2015-16 season tonight at Draddy Gymnasium against local rival Fordham (0-1) in the annual “Battle of the Bronx.” In their season opener, the Rams dropped a 75-79 decision at Penn State on Sunday. This is the first of 14 home games on Manhattan's 2015-16 schedule. The Jaspers are 21-14 in their last 35 home openers going back to 1980-81, but haven't won their first game at Draddy Gymnasium since beating St. Francis Brooklyn on Nov. 13, 2009.
MANHATTAN BREAKDOWN
Manhattan (1-0) opened the season with a win for the first time since 2013-14, knocking off Fairleigh Dickinson 85-78 on Saturday afternoon. The Jaspers set a program record with 13 blocks in the contest, and rank third nationally in that category. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme, who had seven of those blocks, added 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds to earn MAAC Player of the Week honors. Sophomore guard Amani Tatum, meanwhile, tallied 18 second-half points in her first game for Manhattan after transferring from James Madison. Sophomore guard Nyasha Irizarry contributed 16 points, while sophomore guard Taylor Williams notched 14 points in the victory. Senior center Crystal Ross just missed a double-double, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists and four blocks. The Jaspers continue their brief two-game homestand with a matchup against Bucknell on Saturday.
FORDHAM BREAKDOWN
Fordham (0-1) dropped a 75-59 decision at Penn State in its season opener on Sunday afternoon. The Rams have made the postseason in each of the last three years, reaching the second round of the WNIT last season, and were picked fourth in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll. Sophomore forward G'mrice Davis led Fordham with 15 points and nine rebounds against Penn State. Senior forward Samantha Clark, meanwhile, tallied 14 points and eight boards on Sunday. A Preseason Third Team All-Atlantic 10 choice, Clark averaged 8.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season. Junior guard/forward Danielle Burns contributed 10 points and eight rebounds in the loss to Penn State. Junior guard Hannah Missry, Fordham's top three-point threat, is the team's top returning scorer. She recorded 9.3 points per outing in 2014-15. Following tonight's game, the Rams will get nearly a week off before opening their home schedule against Lafayette on Tuesday night.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Manhattan has faced Fordham at least once every season since women's basketball was made a varsity sport in 1978-79. This is the 47th all-time meeting between the rivals, and the Jaspers lead the series 24-22. Fordham has won the last four matchups, though, including a 70-41 triumph last season at Rose Hill Gymnasium. Manhattan's last win over the Rams was a 49-45 victory on Dec. 18, 2011. The Jaspers haven't beaten Fordham at home since Dec. 22, 2010.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Jaspers opened the 2015-16 season with an 85-78 victory at Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday. Manhattan trailed 45-38 at halftime, but outscored the Knights 27-7 in the third quarter to take a 65-52 lead. After Fairleigh Dickinson cut the margin to one, 77-76, with 1:49 left, Amani Tatum sank a three to put the Jaspers up four, and Manhattan pulled away for an 85-78 win. Tatum led four Jaspers in double figures with 18 points, all in the second half. Nyasha Irizarry added 16 points and Taylor Williams tallied 13 points. Kayla Grimme, meanwhile, nearly had a triple-double with 11 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks, as Manhattan set a program record with 13 blocks as a team. Crystal Ross just missed a double-double of her own, finishing with nine points and 10 boards to go along with four assists and four blocks.