Manhattan-Saint Peter's Game Notes
GAME #18: Saint Peter's Peacocks (4-13, 2-6 MAAC) at Manhattan Jaspers (7-10, 4-4 MAAC)
Thursday, January 21, 2016-5:00 p.m.
Riverdale, NY-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: ESPN3 (Dean Darling and Julianne Viani)
Live Audio
Live Stats
JASPERS GAMEDAY
The Jaspers (7-10, 4-4 MAAC) wrap up their four-game homestand with a matchup against Saint Peter's (4-13, 2-6 MAAC) that will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3. Manhattan snapped a three-game skid with a 63-56 victory over Iona on Monday afternoon. Saint Peter's, which is in the midst of a four-game road trip, has dropped two straight, including a 51-46 defeat at Niagara on Sunday. This is the first of three Manhattan games this season that will be seen on ESPN3, as well as the opener of a doubleheader at Draddy Gymnasium. Following the women's game, the two-time defending MAAC champion Manhattan men take on Monmouth.
MANHATTAN BREAKDOWN
Manhattan (7-10, 4-4 MAAC) knocked off Iona by a 63-56 count on Monday to snap its three-game losing streak. Sophomore guard Amani Tatum tallies 11.4 points per game to lead the team. She also dishes out a team-high 3.2 assists per contest to go along with 2.6 steals per outing, the second-highest total in the league. Sophomore guard Nyasha Irizarry tallies 9.8 points a night, including 11.8 points per game in conference play, and she's fifth in the MAAC with 2.1 treys per contest. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme, who notched her third double-double of the season against Iona, records 8.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per outing. She also ranks second in the league and 23rd in the nation with 2.8 blocks a night. In addition, Grimme is fourth in the MAAC in free throw percentage (.822). Senior guard Blake Underhill, meanwhile, hands out 3.1 assists per game. After playing four straight at home, the Jaspers hit the road on Saturday, when they visit Rider.
SAINT PETER'S BREAKDOWN
Saint Peter's (4-13, 2-6 MAAC) suffered its second straight loss on Sunday afternoon, dropping a 51-46 decision at Niagara. Sophomore forward Sajanna Bethea paces the Peacocks in both scoring and rebounding. She averages 12.5 points and 6.7 boards a night to go along with a team-high 2.1 assists per game. Bethea is also the MAAC leader in free throw percentage (.870). Sophomore guard/forward Talah Hughes has come off the bench in every game this season and ranks second on the team in scoring with an average of 9.6 points per contest. Senior forward Hala Mostafa, meanwhile, tallies 8.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per outing. She also ranks fifth in the league with 1.8 blocks a night. Junior guard Marcia Senatus distributes 1.9 assists per game, while sophomore guard Alyssa Velles is the team leader in three-pointers (13). The Peacocks conclude their four-game road trip with a visit to Marist on Monday night.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Manhattan and Saint Peter's split the season series in 2014-15, with the road team winning each game. The Peacocks posted a 68-58 victory at Draddy Gymnasium on Feb. 7, while the Jaspers notched a 69-66 triumph at the Yanitelli Center on Feb. 21. This is the 79th all-time meeting between the Jaspers and Peacocks, two original MAAC members. Saint Peter's leads the series 52-26, but Manhattan has won 10 of the last 12 matchups between the squads.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Jaspers used a dominant fourth quarter to overcome a nine-point deficit and post a come-from-behind 63-56 victory over Iona at Draddy Gymnasium on Monday. Manhattan trailed 49-40 after three quarters, but outscored the Gaels 23-7 in the final frame to earn the win and snap its three-game losing streak. The Jaspers opened the quarter on a 10-0 to pull in front, then went ahead for good when a Nyasha Irizarry three-pointer made it 55-53 with 3:03 remaining. It was the 11th and final lead change in a contest that also featured five ties. Iona led 14-13 after one quarter and held a 30-25 halftime advantage. Irizarry had 13 of her game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, while Kayla Grimme notched her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 boards. Amani Tatum also tallied 12 points in the victory.
SAINT PETER'S CONNECTIONS
Assistant Coach Samera Marsh is a 2008 Saint Peter's graduate, and she began her coaching career with the Peacocks during the 2007-08 season after serving as the team's student manager. Manhattan Head Coach John Olenowski was an assistant with that 2007-08 Saint Peter's team, helping the Peacocks go 19-12, their most wins since 2001-02, and advance to the MAAC semifinals.
ESPN3 AT DRADDY
Today's contest marks the first time in three seasons that a Manhattan home game is being broadcast on ESPN3. The last time the Jaspers were featured on ESPN3 at Draddy Gymnasium was on Jan. 25, 2013, when they took on Marist. The only other previous time a Manhattan home game was broadcast on ESPN3, the Jaspers ended Marist's 34-game winning streak against MAAC competition with a 48-44 victory on Feb. 4, 2012. This is the first time in program history that a pair of home games will be broadcast nationally in the same season. Manhattan's contest against Monmouth on Feb. 11 will also be broadcast.