Manhattan-Monmouth Game Notes
GAME #28: MANHATTAN JASPERS (3-24, 2-16 MAAC) AT MONMOUTH HAWKS (11-16, 7-11 MAAC)
Thursday, February 26, 2015-5 p.m.
West Long Branch, N.J.-Multipurpose Activity Center (4,100)
Video: ESPN3
Audio: www.monmouthhawks.com
GAME INFORMATION
The Jaspers (3-24, 2-16 MAAC) conclude their road schedule with a matchup against Monmouth (11-16, 7-11 MAAC) at the Multipurpose Activity Center that will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Manhattan, which is in the midst of a span of five games in 10 days, is coming off an 82-71 home loss to MAAC regular season champion Quinnipiac on Tuesday night. Monmouth, meanwhile, had a two-game winning streak snapped with a 62-49 loss at Canisius on Sunday. The Hawks notched a 73-69 victory when the squads met in Riverdale on Jan. 16.
THE JASPERS
Manhattan (3-24, 2-16 MAAC), which snapped a 12-game skid with a 69-66 victory at Saint Peter's on Saturday, dropped an 82-71 decision to Quinnipiac on Tuesday. Junior forward Shayna Ericksen is the team's leading scorer and rebounder. She tallies 10.1 points and 6.4 boards per contest while also ranking fifth in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.481). Freshmen guards Nyasha Irizarry and Taylor Williams, meanwhile, contribute 7.3 points per game apiece, and they both drain 1.5 three-pointers a night. Freshman center Kayla Grimme registers 6.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest to go along with a team-leading 1.4 blocks per outing. Junior guard Blake Underhill has handed out double-digit assists in each of her last two games, including 13 in the loss to Quinnipiac. For the season, she averages 3.3 assists per contest, the best mark on the squad. Manhattan ends the regular season with a home game against Fairfield on Saturday afternoon.
THE HAWKS
Monmouth (11-16, 7-11 MAAC) had a two-game winning streak snapped with a 62-49 loss at Canisius on Sunday. Junior guard Sarah Olson is the Hawks' leading scorer with an average of 11.8 points per game. She's also fourth in the MAAC in three-pointers, draining 2.5 per outing. Sophomore guard Helena Kurt, meanwhile, reigsters 9.6 points per contest and ranks fourth in the league with 4.7 assists a night. Junior guard Jasmine Walker contributes 7.6 points per game, while sophomore forward Jenny Horvatinovic tallies 7.5 points per outing. Walker also pulls down 4.5 rebounds per contest. Sophomore forward Christina Mitchell leads the Hawks with 6.8 boards per game, and she also registers 1.3 blocks per contest. Sophomore center Sophie Beaudry collects 1.1 blocks a night. The Hawks, who will be seeded anywhere between seventh and ninth in the MAAC Tournament, host Quinnipiac on Sunday afternoon in their final game of the regular season.
MANHATTAN VS. MONMOUTH ALL-TIME
This is the 18th all-time meeting between Manhattan and Monmouth, and the fourth since the Hawks became members of the MAAC last season. Manhattan leads the all-time series 9-8, but Monmouth has won the last two matchups, including a 73-69 triumph at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 16. That snapped a four-game winning streak by the home team in the series. Manhattan's last win over Monmouth was a 65-59 victory in Riverdale on Dec. 31, 2013.
LAST GAME
On Tuesday night, the Jaspers gave first-place Quinnipiac all it could handle in an 82-71 loss at Draddy Gymnasium. There were four ties and six lead changes in the first half. However, Quinnipiac ended the period on an 8-3 run to turn a 32-32 deadlock into a 40-35 advantage. After Manhattan pulled within three early in the second half, the Bobcats went on a 15-5 rally to open up a 55-42 cushion. The Jaspers again cut the margin to three points at 68-65, but a final 16-6 Quinnipiac spurt sealed an 82-71 victory for the Bobcats. Shayna Ericksen led four Jaspers in double-figures with 17 points. Ashley Stec added 16 points, while Kayla Grimme notched 14 points and Taylor Williams contributed 13 points. Blake Underhill dished out a career-high 13 assists, one shy of the single-game program record.