Manhattan-Siena Game Notes
GAME #24: Siena Saints (12-13, 9-6 MAAC) at Manhattan Jaspers (11-12, 8-6 MAAC)
Sunday, February 14, 2016-2:00 p.m.
RIverdale, NY-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: Jasper Sports Network
Live Audio
Live Stats
JASPERS GAMEDAY
The Jaspers (11-12, 8-6 MAAC) welcome Siena (12-13, 9-6 MAAC) to Draddy Gymnasium for their annual “Play 4 Kay” game for breast cancer awareness. This is the second straight year in which Siena is the “Play 4 Kay” opponent. Manhattan has won five of its last seven contests, but is coming off a 57-56 loss to Monmouth on Thursday. After starting MAAC play 7-0, the Saints have dropped six of their last eight, including three straight. In its last outing, Siena suffered a 64-51 defeat against Iona on Wednesday. Siena is currently tied for fourth in the MAAC standings, one half-game ahead of the Jaspers. The top five teams receive a first-round bye in the conference tournament.
MANHATTAN BREAKDOWN
Manhattan (11-12, 8-6 MAAC) plays its annual “Play 4 Kay” game looking for its sixth victory in eight outings. The Jaspers are coming off a 57-56 loss against Monmouth at Draddy Gymnasium on Thursday. Sophomore guard Amani Tatum averages a team-best 11.6 points per game to go along with a conference-leading 3.2 steals per contest. Tatum also distributes 3.1 assists per outing. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme is second in the MAAC in blocks (2.5 bpg) and fifth in the league in rebouding (8.0 rpg). She adds 7.8 points a night. Senior forward Shayna Ericksen, meanwhile, tallies 7.5 points per game. Senior guard Blake Underhill notches 6.5 points per contest to go along with a team-high 3.7 assists per outing, which ranks fifth in the league. Underhill is also fifth in the MAAC in steals, averaging 1.8 a night. The Jaspers begin their annual Western New York trip on Friday night with a matchup at Canisius that will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
SIENA BREAKDOWN
Siena has dropped three straight and five out of six. The Saints are coming off a 64-51 loss to Iona on Wednesday. Sophomore guard Kollys Scarbrough leads the team and ranks fifth in the MAAC in scoring with an average of 12.7 points per game. She also tallies 3.1 steals per contest, second-most in the league, and distributes 1.9 assists per outing. Freshman guard Jackie Benitez registers 9.8 points a night, and her .836 free throw percentage in the second-best mark in the conference. Benitez is fifth in the MAAC in steals (1.9 spg). Sophomore guard Denisha Petty-Evans, meanwhile, contributes 8.3 points per game. Senior forward Symone Kelly grabs a team-best 5.9 rebounds per contest, while freshman guard Deja Rawls hands out a squad-leading 2.3 assists per outing. The Saints play three of their final four regular season games at home, starting with a matchup against Fairfield on Wednesday.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Saints posted a 60-59 victory over the Jaspers when the squads met in Loudonville on Jan. 10. That was Siena's fourth straight victory over Manhattan, and its ninth in the last 10 meetings. The Jaspers' only win during that span was a 62-55 victory on Jan. 30, 2014. Manhattan hasn't beaten Siena at Draddy Gymnasium since notching a 56-53 triumph on Feb. 2, 2012. Overall, this is the 62nd meeting between the schools, with Siena leading the all-time series 41-20.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Monmouth's Jasmine McCall hit a pair of free throws with 9.1 seconds left to give the Hawks a 57-56 victory over the Jaspers at Draddy Gymnasium on Thursday. Manhattan had one last chance to win the game, but Blake Underhill's runner was off the mark and Monmouth corralled the rebound. The Jaspers led 13-10 after one quarter and extended their advantage to 26-14 midway through the second period before Monmouth pulled within six, 28-22, at halftime. Manhattan then extended its cushion to 14 points, 47-33, after three quarters, but the Hawks came back for the victory. For the Jaspers, Shayna Ericksen recorded her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Underhill and Crystal Ross tallied 10 points apiece, while Kayla Grimme grabbed eight rebounds.
PLAY 4 KAY
The Jaspers are wearing pink shirts and shoelaces during today's game as a part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's “Play 4 Kay” initiative for breast cancer awareness. This marks the ninth straight year in which all 11MAAC schools are participating in the event. In addition, the Jaspers once again volunteered at the Susan G. Komen New York City Race for the Cure at Central Park West in September. The team worked the third water station, handing out water to the 25,000 runners/walkers on the 5K course.
