Manhattan-Niagara Game Notes
GAME #7: Niagara Purple Eagles (1-4, 0-0 MAAC) at Manhattan Jaspers (2-4, 0-0 MAAC)
Friday, December 4, 2015-7 p.m.
Riverdale, NY-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: Jasper Sports Network
Live Stats
JASPERS GAME NIGHT
The Jaspers (2-4, 0-0 MAAC) begin their 20-game Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) slate by welcoming Niagara (1-4, 0-0 MAAC) to Draddy Gymnasium. This is one of just two home games in a six-week stretch for Manhattan. In their last outing, the Jaspers suffered a 62-36 loss at Yale on Tuesday night. After defeating Cleveland State 73-72 in overtime on Friday, the Purple Eagles dropped an 80-75 decision at Detroit on Saturday. Manhattan begins a span where it plays six out of seven on the road at defending MAAC champion Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon, while Niagara visits Monmouth on Sunday.
MANHATTAN BREAKDOWN
Manhattan (2-4, 0-0 MAAC) begins conference play looking to rebound after suffering a 62-36 loss at Yale on Tuesday night. Sophomore guard Amani Tatum leads the Jaspers with 12.8 points per game, and her 2.3 steals per contest are second-most in the MAAC. Sophomore guard Taylor Williams tallies 8.3 points per outing, and she leads the Jaspers with 1.7 three-pointers a night. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme chips in 7.8 points per game. She also ranks second in the MAAC in rebounding, averaging 9.3 boards per contest and is sixth in the NCAA with a conference-best 3.3 blocks per outing. Sophomore guard Nyasha Irizarry contributes 7.6 points a night, while senior guard Blake Underhill hands out a team-leading 2.8 assists per game. Underhill is also third in the MAAC with 2.0 steals per contest. The Jaspers, who play just one of their next seven games at home, visit defending MAAC champion Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon.
NIAGARA BREAKDOWN
Niagara (1-4, 0-0 MAAC) is coming off an 80-75 loss at Detroit on Saturday afternoon. Four different Purple Eagles are averaging double-figures in the scoring column, led by junior forward Victoria Rampado's 13.3 points per game. Rampado, a Preseason First Team All-MAAC selection, also paces the team with 8.0 rebounds per contest. However, she has missed the last two games due to injury. Sophomore forward Kaylee Stroemple tallies 11.8 points, 6.0 boards and 4.0 assists per outing, while senior guard Taylor McKay notches 11.6 points and 3.2 assists a night. Senior forward Sam Lapszynski is the current MAAC Player of the Week. She averaged 25.5 points and 7.5 rebounds against Cleveland State and Detroit. For the season, Lapszynski's scoring average is 11.6 points per game. She also records 1.6 blocks per contest. The Purple Eagles continue their four-game road trip on Sunday, when they visit Monmouth.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Manhattan has dropped seven of its last nine games against Niagara, including all three matchups last season. The Purple Eagles notched a 64-36 victory at the Gallagher Center on Dec. 7, 2014, and a 53-46 triumph at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 31 before defeating the Jaspers, 57-51, in the first round of the MAAC Tournament on March 5. Overall, this is the 55th all-time meeting between the schools, and the Purple Eagles lead the series 28-26.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Manhattan offense was never able to get going at Yale on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs scored the first six points of the game and led wire-to-wire in a 62-36 victory at the John J. Lee Amphitheater. Yale led 12-2 midway through the first quarter and led 23-5 with 1:38 left in the period. After trailing 25-10 at the end of the quarter, the Jaspers began the second on a 6-0 run to pull within nine, 25-16. Yale responded with an 11-0 rally, but Manhattan ended the half on a 7-0 spurt to make it 37-23 at intermission. The Bulldogs increased their advantage to 49-25 after three quarters, and the lead reached as many as 29 points before Yale closed out a 62-36 triumph. Amani Tatum finsihed with a team-high 12 points. Kayla Grimme tallied nine points and six rebounds, while Taylor Williams added six points.
OPENING STATEMENT
Manhattan is opening its MAAC schedule against Niagara for the third time, and the first time in 13 seasons. Both previous meetings took place at the Gallagher Center, with Niagara winning both. The Purple Eagles notched a 74-71 triumph on Jan. 12, 1996 and picked up a 65-51 victory on Dec. 6, 2002. In each of those seasons, Manhattan went on to win the MAAC Tournament, which are the Jaspers' two most recent conference titles.
