Manhattan-Marist Game Notes
GAME #31 (MAAC Quarterfinals): #6 Manhattan Jaspers (15-15) vs. #3 Marist Red Foxes (15-15)
Saturday, March 5, 2016-12:00 p.m.
Albany, NY-Times Union Center (10,450)
Audio: Jasper Sports Network
Live Stats
JASPERS GAMEDAY
After posting a 60-43 victory over Saint Peter's in the first round on Thursday, sixth-seeded Manhattan (15-15) takes on third-seeded Marist (15-15) in the quarterfinals. The Jaspers are looking to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2011, while the Red Foxes have played in the last 12 MAAC Championship Games, winning 10 titles. Manhattan has alternated wins and losses over its last nine contests since posting a 64-59 victory over the Red Foxes in Poughkeepsie on Feb. 8. Marist concluded the regular season with a 67-55 win over Canisius last Saturday. This is the sixth MAAC Tournament meeting between the squads, and the first since 2013.
MANHATTAN BREAKDOWN
The sixth-seeded Jaspers (15-15) beat 11th-seeded Saint Peter's 60-43 on Thursday in the first round for their first MAAC Tournament win since 2013. Manhattan, which has alternated wins and losses over its last nine contests, is looking to get above .500 for the first time since starting the season 1-0. Sophomore guard Amani Tatum, a Second Team All-MAAC selection, paces the Jaspers with 11.9 points per game. The MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, she also notches 3.3 steals per contest to go along with 3.2 assists per outing. Tatum is fourth nationally with 99 steals, which is tied for the highest single-season total in school history. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme posts 7.6 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds a night, and she ranks second in the MAAC with 2.3 blocks per game. Her 69 blocks this season are a program-record. Senior guard Blake Underhill is fourth in the league in steals (1.9 spg) and sixth in the conference in assists (3.4 apg), and she also registers 6.9 points per contest.
MARIST BREAKDOWN
Marist (15-15) went 14-6 in conference play to earn the No. 3 seed in the MAAC Tournament. The Red Foxes notched a 67-55 win over Canisius in their regular season finale last Saturday. Senior center Tori Jarosz, the MAAC Player of the Year, leads the conference in scoring (18.8 ppg) and rebounding (12.1 rpg). She's also the MAAC leader in field goal percentage (.490) and blocks (3.0 bpg). Senior guard Sydney Coffey was also named to the All-MAAC First Team. She ranks second in the league with 15.4 points per contest and an assist/turnover ratio of 2.1 while also registering team-highs with 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals per outing. Sophomore guard Allie Clement drains 2.4 three-pointers a night, third-most in the MAAC, and ranks third on the squad with 9.3 points per game. The Red Foxes have reached the MAAC Championship Game in each of last 12 years and won 10 conference titles during that span.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Manhattan and Marist split the season series in 2015-16, with the road team winning each contest. The Red Foxes notched a 79-73 victory at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 12, while the Jaspers notched a 65-59 triumph at McCann Arena on Fab. 8. That victory, Manhattan's first in Pougkeepsie since 2003, snapped Marist's eight-game winning streak in the series. Overall, this is the 53rd all-time meeting between the schools, with the Red Foxes holding a 28-24 edge.
JASPERS-RED FOXES IN THE MAAC TOURNAMENT
This is the sixth MAAC Tournament meeting between the Jaspers and Red Foxes, and the first since 2013. Marist took that quarterfinal matchup 72-50 and has won each of its last three postseason games against Manhattan. The Jaspers' last MAAC Tournament victory over Marist was a 70-54 triumph in the 2002 quarterfinals.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The Jaspers opened the MAAC Tournament with a 60-43 victory over Saint Peter's in the first round on Thursday. Manhattan led 15-13 after one quarter and 31-26 at halftime before outscoring the Peacocks 15-4 in the third period to open up a 46-30 advantage. The Jaspers' cushion reached a game-high 19 points at 59-40 with 2:48 remaining, and Manhattan snapped its three-game MAAC Tournament losing streak with the 60-43 victory. Blake Underhill led four Jaspers in double-figures with 16 points, and she also grabbed eight rebounds. Maeve Parahus added 14 points, while Amani Tatum had 13 points. Tatum also collected two steals to tie the single-season school record of 99. Kayla Grimme, meanwhile, tallied 10 points to go along with two blocks, giving her a program-record 69 blocks on the season.
SEASON SERIES
Jan. 12-Marist 79, Manhattan 73 (Draddy Gymnasium)
The Jaspers suffered a 79-73 loss to Marist at Draddy Gymnasium on Jan. 12. Marist built a 20-17 lead after the first quarter, but Manhattan rallied to go up 31-30 on a Jacqui Thompson three-pointer midway through the second. However, the Red Foxes closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 36-31 advantage into the locker room, then opened the third quarter on a 14-6 run to make it 50-37. Manhattan trailed 59-50 entering the final period before Marist used an 8-2 rally to open up its largest lead of the game, 67-52. The Jaspers outscored the Red Foxes 21-12 the rest of the way to cut the final margin to six, 79-73. Four Jaspers scored in double-figures, led by Kayla Grimme's 14 points. She also had nine boards and four blocks. Shayna Ericksen and Thompson finished with 13 points apiece, while Nyasha Irizarry tallied 11 points.
Feb. 8-Manhattan 64, Marist 59 (McCann Arena)
Manhattan earned the 500th win in program history on Feb. 8, notching a 64-59 triumph at Marist. It was also the Jaspers' first victory at McCann Arena since 2003. Manhattan led 18-17 after one quarter and Marist held a 27-24 advantage at halftime. The Jaspers took a 41-40 cushion into the fourth quarter, but trailed 49-47 when Amani Tatum went for eight straight points to put Manhattan up 55-49. The Jaspers never trailed again, snapping their 12-game losing streak in Poughkeepsie with a 64-59 victory. Tatum led the way with a career-high 19 points, while Blake Underhill tallied 14 points. Kayla Grimme had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Shayna Ericksen just missed a double-double of her own, finishing with nine points and 12 boards.
BRACKETOLOGY
The sixth-seeded Jaspers advanced to the quarterfinals with a 60-43 victory over 11th-seeded Saint Peter's in the first round on Thursday. Manhattan's opponent is third-seeded Marist, which has played in each of the last 12 MAAC Championship Games, winning 10 titles. The winner of this quarterfinal matchup will face second-seeded Iona (21-11) at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday in a semifinal game that will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Monday afternoon's MAAC Championship Game, which gets underway at 2:30 p.m., will air on ESPNU.
AWARDS SEASON
Sophomore guard Amani Tatum was named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year at the MAAC Postseason Awards Show on Friday. The MAAC leader in steals (99), she ranks fourth nationally in that category. Tatum is also sixth in the nation with a league-best 3.30 steals per game. She's the first Manhattan player ever to be selected MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, and the first Jasper to win any MAAC postseason award since Tiffany Schettig earned MAAC Rookie of the Year honors in 1999-2000.
