Game Notes
GAME #11: New Hampshire Wildcats (8-3) at Manhattan Jaspers (4-6)
Wednesday, December 30, 2016 - 7:00 PM
Riverdale, NY - Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: Jasper Sports Network
Audio
Live Stats
TONIGHT'S GAME
After an eight-day holiday break, Manhattan (4-6) returns to action with its final non-conference game of the season against New Hampshire (8-3) at Draddy Gymnasium. The Jaspers, who are looking to snap a two-game skid, dropped a 69-64 decision at Bucknell on Dec. 20. The Wildcats, meanwhile, have won two straight. New Hampshire is coming off a 56-52 home victory over Central Connecticut State last Wednesday. This is Manhattan's first home contest in a month, as well as the start of a four-game homestand.
ABOUT THE JASPERS
The Jaspers (4-6) begin a season-long four-game homestand looking to rebound after two straight losses. Manhattan is coming off a 69-64 defeat at Bucknell on Dec. 20. Junior guard Amani Tatum paces the Jaspers offensively. She leads the squad with 10.4 points per game, and her 4.9 assists per contest are the most in the MAAC. Tatum also ranks second in the league with 3.0 steals per outing. Junior center Kayla Grimme registers 9.2 points a night to go along with a team-leading 6.7 rebounds per game and a MAAC-best 2.6 blocks per contest. Senior guard Maeve Parahus drains 1.9 three-pointers a night and is shooting .422 from beyind the arc. Junior center Mikki Guiton, meanwhile, notches 5.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. This is Manhattan's final non-conference contest of the season. The Jaspers (0-2 MAAC) resume their MAAC schedule by hosting Siena (2-8, 1-1 MAAC) on Friday night.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
New Hampshire (8-3) has won each of its last two games, including a 56-52 victory over Central Connecticut State on Dec. 21. Three different Wildcats are averaging double-figures in the scoring column, led by junior guard Brittni Lai's 14.3 points per game. She also leads the team with 4.0 assists per contest and is shooting .408 from three-point range. Junior center Carlie Pogue, meanwhile, tallies 13.6 points per outing to go along with a team-high 7.4 rebounds a night. Junior forward Kat Fogarty notches 11.7 points and 6.1 boards per game, and she paces the Wildcats with 1.3 blocks per contest. Both Lai and Fogarty transferred to New Hampshire from Marist. Senior guard Kristen Anderson contributes 4.0 assists per outing, and junior guard Aliza Simpson hands out 2.5 assists a night to go along with 5.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. The Wildcats return home on Saturday for a matchup with Dartmouth (4-7).
SERIES HISTORY
Manhattan and New Hampshire are facing each other for the third straight season and the ninth time in program history. The Wildcats have won each of the last two meetings, including a 72-57 victory in Durham on Nov. 24, 2015. On Dec. 28, 2014 at Draddy Gymnasium, New Hampshire beat Manhattan by a 58-54 count. The Jaspers' last win over the Wildcats was a 57-42 triumph in Riverdale on Dec. 3, 2010. Overall, New Hampshire holds a 5-3 edge in the all-time series.
LAST TIME OUT
On Dec. 20, the Jaspers capped a four-game road trip with a 69-64 loss at Bucknell. The Bison led 24-8 after one quarter and held a 42-25 edge at halftime. Manhattan rallied back in the third quarter, though, outscoring Bucknell 21-12 in the period to pull within eight points, 54-46. The Jaspers started the final stanza with back-to-back treys by Nyasha Irizarry and Amani Tatum to trim their deficit to two, 54-52. After a Tatum layup brought Manhattan within 66-64 at the 33-second mark, Bucknell made three free throws down the stretch to account for the final margin. Tatum tallied a career-high 22 points to go along with six assists, seven steals and two blocks. Irizarry drained five treys and finished with 18 points, and Kayla Grimme posted 12 points while also grabbing a team-high six rebounds.