Manhattan-Siena Game Notes
GAME #14: Manhattan Jaspers (6-7, 3-1 MAAC) at Siena Saints (8-7, 5-0 MAAC)
Sunday, January 10, 2016-2:00 p.m.
Loudonville, NY-Alumni Recreation Center (4,000)
Video: Siena All-Access
Live Stats
JASPERS GAMEDAY
The Jaspers (6-7, 3-1 MAAC) conclude their four-game road trip by visiting first-place Siena (8-7, 5-0 MAAC), one of two remaining undefeated teams in MAAC play. Manhattan snapped a two-game losing streak with a 70-55 victory at Fairfield on Friday. The Saints, meanwhile, have won four in a row, including a 66-45 triumph over Rider on Friday night. After playing just once in 18 days from Dec. 21-Jan. 7, the Jaspers are in the midst of a span where they play three times in five days. Manhattan, which has played six of its last seven on the road, begins a four-game homestand on Tuesday morning with its annual “Kid's Day Out” game against Marist.
MANHATTAN BREAKDOWN
Manhattan (6-7, 3-1 MAAC) wraps up its season-long four-game road trip looking for its second straight win. The Jaspers notched a 70-55 victory at Fairfield on Friday morning. Sophomore guard Amani Tatum paces Manhattan and ranks eighth in the MAAC in scoring, averaging 12.5 points per game. She also leads the league with 3.2 steals per contest and distributes a team-high 2.7 assists per outing. Senior guard Blake Underhill, meanwhile, contributes 2.6 assists a night. Sophomore guard Nyasha Irizarry, who tallied a career-high 19 points in the win over Fairfield, pours in 8.3 points per game and drains 1.7 three-pointers per outing. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme leads the MAAC with 2.8 blocks per contest. She's also the Jaspers' leading rebounder (8.3 rpg) and ranks third on the team in scoring (7.5 ppg). After playing six out of seven on the road, the Jaspers begin a four-game homestand against Marist on Tuesday morning.
SIENA BREAKDOWN
Siena (8-7, 5-0 MAAC) remained undefeated in MAAC play with a 66-45 triumph over Rider on Friday. The Saints have won four straight and eight of their last 10. Sophomore guard Kollys Scarbrough averages a team-best 12.6 points per game, and her 3.1 steals per contest are second-most in the league. Freshman guard Jackie Benitez, meanwhile, tallies 10.7 points per outing off the bench. She also leads the MAAC in free throw percentage (.868). Sophomore forward Margot Hetzke, last season's MAAC Rookie of the Year, pulls down a team-best 8.1 rebounds a night to go along with 7.4 points per contest. However, she has missed the Saints' last four games due to injury. Junior forward Meghan Donohue pulls down 5.1 boards a night, while freshman guard Deja Rawls leads Siena with 2.6 assists per outing. The Saints conclude their three-game homestand against Monmouth on Friday morning.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Siena swept the season series with the Jaspers in 2014-15, posting a 59-51 victory in Loudonville on Jan. 24 and a 66-51 triumph at Draddy Gymnasium on Feb. 19. Overall, Siena leads the all-time series 40-20. The Saints have won three straight and eight out of nine against the Jaspers. Manhattan's last win over Siena was a 62-55 victory at the Times Union Center on Jan. 30, 2014. The Jaspers haven't beaten the Saints at the Alumni Recreation Center since Dec. 7, 2007.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Nyasha Irizarry drained five three-pointers and had a career-high 19 points, as Manhattan snapped its two-game losing streak with a 70-55 victory over Fairfield at Alumni Hall on Friday. The Stags held a 20-15 lead after the first quarter, but the Jaspers used a 10-0 run in the second quarter to take a 32-27 cushion at the break. After Fairfield opened the third quarter on a 10-2 spurt to pull ahead, Irizarry hit back-to-back treys to put the Jaspers in front for good. Manhattan led 50-44 heading into the fourth quarter, then went 12-for-12 at the free throw line in the final period to seal the 15-point win. Amani Tatum finished with 16 points, while Shayna Ericksen, Jacqui Thompson and Blake Underhill added seven points apiece. Kayla Grimme, meanwhile, grabbed a game-high eight rebounds for the Jaspers.
