Game Notes
GAME #18: Iona Gaels (9-8, 4-4 MAAC) at Manhattan Jaspers (5-12, 1-7 MAAC)
Friday, January 20, 2017 - 7:00 PM
Riverdale, NY - Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: Jasper Sports Network
Live Stats
TONIGHT'S GAME
Manhattan (5-12, 1-7 MAAC) wraps up a brief two-game homestand by welcoming defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) champion Iona (9-8, 4-4 MAAC) to Draddy Gymnasium on “Faculty & Staff Night.” The Jaspers, who are playing for just the second time in 10 days, dropped a 62-59 decision to Niagara on Sunday afternoon. Iona, meanwhile, has alternated wins and losses over its last eight games and is coming off a 68-62 defeat against Marist on Sunday. The Gaels won the first meeting of the season between the squads, 70-53, in New Rochelle on Dec. 2.
ABOUT THE JASPERS
The Jaspers (5-12, 1-7 MAAC) are looking to snap a five-game skid. Manhattan suffered a 62-59 loss to Niagara on Sunday. Junior guard Amani Tatum averages 11.0 points per game to lead the Jaspers. She also tallies a conference-high 4.8 assists and 3.2 steals per contest. However, Tatum has missed the last four games due to injury. Junior center Kayla Grimme, the only player on the squad to start every game this season, registers 10.6 points and a team-best 6.6 rebounds per outing to go along with a MAAC-leading 1.8 blocks a night. Grimme is four blocks away from becoming Manhattan's all-time leader in that category. Senior guard Maeve Parahus tallies 6.1 points per game and drains 1.6 three-pointers per contest. Junior guard Nyasha Irizarry, meanwhile, sinks 1.5 treys per outing. The Jaspers play five of their next six on the road, starting with a 2 p.m. contest at Saint Peter's (3-14, 2-6 MAAC) on Sunday.
ABOUT THE GAELS
Defending MAAC champion Iona (9-8, 4-4 MAAC) has alternated wins and losses over its last eight games. In their last outing, the Gaels dropped a 68-62 decision against Marist on Sunday. Sophomore guard Alexis Lewis is the MAAC's leading scorer. She averages 17.7 points per game. Lewis is also third in the league with 7.7 rebounds per contest. In addition, she drains 2.4 three-pointers per outing. Senior guard Marina Lizarazu records 12.4 points a night while also ranking second in the conference with 3.9 assists per game. She's also fourth in the conference in steals with an average of 2.5 per contest. Senior forward Karynda DuPree tallies 10.6 points and 7.0 points per outing, and her .530 field goal percentage is the third-best mark in the league. DuPree is tied for the conference lead in blocks with 1.7 a night. The Gaels host Monmouth (9-8, 4-4 MAAC) at 2 p.m. on Sunday before playing three of their next four on the road.
SERIES HISTORY
The Jaspers are facing the Gaels for the 76th time in program history. Manhattan leads the all-time series, which began during the 1979-80 season, 45-30. Iona, however, has won eight of the last nine matchups, including a 70-53 triumph at the Hynes Athletic Center on Dec. 2. The last time the squads met at Draddy Gymnasium, the Jaspers snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Gaels with a 63-56 triumph on Jan. 18, 2016.
LAST TIME OUT
Trailing by three with 2.9 seconds left, the Jaspers had the ball and a chance to tie on Sunday afternoon. However, a last-second half-court attempt by KellyAnne O'Reilly didn't fall, and Manhattan suffered a 62-59 loss to Niagara at Draddy Gymnasium. The Jaspers led 31-25 at halftime, and it was tied at 43-43 entering the fourth quarter. Manhattan opened the final period on an 8-2 run to open up a 51-45 advantage, but Niagara rallied to take a 62-59 lead with 5.1 seconds left. The Purple Eagles missed a pair of free throws late to give Manhattan one final chance, but the shot was off the mark and Jaspers dropped their fifth straight. Mikki Guiton finished with career-highs of 22 points and five assists to go along with seven rebounds. Kayla Grimme added 12 points and seven boards, and Gabby Cajou registered 10 points.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
This marks just the second time in program history, and the first time in 36 years, that Manhattan is playing a home game on the same day a new President took office. On Jan. 20, 1981, the day of Ronald Reagan's inauguration, the Jaspers posted a 107-62 victory over Upsala at Draddy Gymnasium. Current Manhattan Athletic Director Marianne Reilly had 17 points and five rebounds in that game.