Manhattan-Canisius Game Notes
GAME #25: Manhattan Jaspers (12-12, 9-6 MAAC) at Canisius Golden Griffins (11-14, 6-10 MAAC)
Friday, February 19, 2016-7:00 p.m.
Buffalo, NY-Koessler Athletic Center (2,176)
Video: ESPN3 (Jay Moran and Amy Audibert)
Live Stats
JASPERS GAME NIGHT
Manhattan (12-12, 9-6 MAAC) begins a stretch of five games in 10 days to conclude the regular season with a visit to Canisius (11-14, 6-10 MAAC) for the Griffs' annual “Play 4 Kay” contest. The Jaspers have won six of their last eight, including a 56-49 victory over Siena on Sunday afternoon. Canisius, which is in the midst of a five-game homestand, knocked off Marist 71-69 on Sunday for it ssecond straight victory. Manhattan currently sits fifth in the MAAC standings, while Canisius is in eighth place. The Jaspers won the first meeting of the season between the squads, 77-55 at Draddy Gymnasium on Feb. 5.
MANHATTAN BREAKDOWN
The Jaspers (12-12, 9-6 MAAC) have won six of their last eight games, including a 56-49 triumph over Siena on Sunday, to move into fifth place in the MAAC. Manhattan is one victory away from notching double-digit conference wins for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign. Sophomore guard Amani Tatum averages a team-best 11.6 points per game, and she leads the MAAC with 3.3 steals per contest. Tatum also distributes 3.2 assists per outing. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme, meanwhile, tallies 7.8 points and a squad-high 8.0 rebounds a night. She's also second in the MAAC with 2.5 blocks per game, and her 61 blocks are the second-highest single-season total in program history. Senior guard Blake Underhill, who contributes 6.5 points per contest, is fifth in the league in both assists (3.7 apg) and steals (1.8 spg). Manhattan continues its string of five games in 10 days with a matchup against Niagara at the Gallagher Center on Sunday.
CANISIUS BREAKDOWN
Canisius (11-14, 6-10 MAAC) earned its second straight win on Sunday afternoon, a 71-69 victory over Marist. Senior forward Crystal Porter paces the Griffs with 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. She also notches 3.4 assists per contest. Sophomore guard Margret Halfdanardottir tallies 9.4 points per outing, and her .420 three-point percentage is the second-best mark in the MAAC. Canisius ranks 2-3-4 in the league in that category, with sophomore forward Sarah Cooley shooting .418 from long range and junior guard Lauren D'Hony boasting a three-point percentage of .388. D'Hont averages 7.5 points a night. Freshman guard Maria Welch, meanwhile, registers 7.2 points per game, and she leads Canisius with 1.5 three-pointers per contest. The Griffs continue their five-game homestand against Monmouth on Sunday before welcoming Niagara to the Koessler Athletic Center on Thursday.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Jaspers snapped the Griffs' two-game winning streak in the series with a 77-55 victory in Riverdale on Feb. 5. Overall, Manhattan has won nine of the last 12 meetings between the squads. In last season's matchup at the Koessler Athletic Center, the Griffs notched a 55-44 triumph on Dec. 5, 2014. The Jaspers' last win in Buffalo was a 52-44 victory on Feb. 13, 2014. Canisius holds a 31-26 edge all-time against Manhattan.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
In a game that was tied after three periods, the Jaspers used a 12-0 run early in the fourth quarter to build a 10-point lead en route to a 56-49 victory over Siena at Draddy Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon. Siena led 12-11 after one, and the contest was knotted, 22-22, at halftime. It was still deadlocked, 34-34, entering the fourth quarter. The Saints scored the first bucket of the final frame before a Shayna Ericksen layup ignited a 12-0 Manhattan run that put the Jaspers up 46-36. Siena got back within six at 48-42, but would pull no closer, as the Jaspers held on for a 56-49 triumph. Amani Tatum tallied a team-high 13 points to go along with six assists and five steals. Taylor Williams added nine points off the bench, while Blake Underhill notched seven points, four rebounds and four assists. Kayla Grimme grabbed six boards and rejected four Siena shots.
PLAY 4 KAY
The Jaspers are wearing pink shirts and shoelaces during tonight's game as a part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's “Play 4 Kay” initiative for breast cancer awareness. This is Manhattan's second straight “Play 4 Kay” game. The Jaspers also honored the cause during their home game against Siena on Feb. 14. All 11MAAC schools are participating in the event for the ninth consecutive year. 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.
