Manhattan-Holy Cross Game Notes
GAME #9: Manhattan Jaspers (4-4) at Holy Cross Crusaders (2-7)
Saturday, December 12, 2015-1 p.m.
Worcester, MA-Hart Center (3,600)
Video: Patriot League Network
Live Stats
JASPERS GAMEDAY
The Jaspers (4-4) resume non-conference play at Holy Cross (2-7) looking for their third straight victory. Manhattan's last three-game winning streak was from Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 2012. The Jaspers, who have won three of their last four contests, picked up a 52-42 road victory over defending MAAC champion Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon. Holy Cross, meanwhile, has dropped two straight, including a 75-67 defeat at UMass Lowell on Wednesday night. After playing four times in eight days, this is the Jaspers' only contest in a 12-day span. It's also the second game of a string where Manhattan plays six out of seven on the road.
MANHATTAN BREAKDOWN
Manhatan (4-4) has won two straight and three of its last four. The Jaspers are coming off a 52-42 victory at defending MAAC champion Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore guard Amani Tatum, who tied her career-hihg with 18 points against Quinnipiac, averages 12.6 points per game to lead the Jaspers. She also ranks second in the MAAC with 2.9 steals per contest. Sophomore guard Taylor Williams tallies 9.0 points per outing, while senior center Crystal Ross contributes 7.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a night. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme is fifth nationally with 3.5 blocks per game, and she also tallies 7.8 points and 8.9 boards per contest. Senior guard Blake Underhill, meanwhile, distrbutes a team-best 2.8 assists per outing. After taking a six-day break for finals, Manhattan returns home for the only time in a seven-game stretch on Friday night for a matchup with defending Northeast Conference champion St. Francis Brooklyn.
HOLY CROSS BREAKDOWN
Holy Cross (2-7) has dropped two straight, including a 75-67 defeat at UMass Lowell on Wednesday night. Four different Crusaders are avearging double-figures in scoring, led by senior forward Raquel Scott's 16.4 points per game. She also grabs a team-leading 8.9 rebounds per contest. However, Scott hasn't played since Dec. 2 due to injury. Sophomore guard Infiniti Thomas-Waheed registers 11.6 points per outing, and she drains 1.7 treys a night to go along with 2.3 steals per game, the third-highest mark in the Patriot League. Senior guard Lisa Mifsud leads the Patriot League with a .947 free throw percentage, and she's second in the conference in assists (4.4 per contest). Mifsud also tallies 11.1 points per outing, while sophomore guard Katie Doherty registers 10.2 poins a night. The Crusaders will have a nine-day break before hosting Dartmouth on Dec. 21 in their final non-conference game of the season.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Manhattan and Holy Cross are meeting for the fifth consecutive season and the 22nd time overall. This marks the second straight year in which the Jaspers are visiting the Hart Center. Last season, Manhattan came away with a 66-60 victory on Nov. 16, 2014. The road team has won the each of the last four matchups dating back to Manhattan's 78-63 triumph in the quarterfinals of the 2012 Women's Basketball Invitational. Holy Cross holds a 12-9 edge in the all-time series.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Jaspers picked up their second straight win to start conference play on Sunday afternoon, knocking off defending MAAC champion Quinnipiac 52-42 at the TD Bank Sports Center. It was a tight defensive struggle throughout, as the Bobcats led 12-11 after one quarter and the Jaspers held a 22-21 halftime advantage. Manhattan took a 36-33 lead into the fourth quarter, then started the final frame on a 7-0 run to open up a 10-point margin, 43-33, with 4:05 remaining. The lead reached a game-high 13 points before a late Bobcats three-pointer made the final score 52-42. Amani Tatum tied a career-high with 18 points, eight in the fourth quarter, to go along with seven rebounds and five steals. Blake Underhill added 11 points and a career-high nine boards, while Crystal Ross had eight points and four blocks.
