Game Notes
GAME #15: Manhattan Jaspers (5-9, 1-4 MAAC) at Fairfield Stags (6-8, 3-2 MAAC)
Sunday, January 8, 2017 - 2:00 PM
Fairfield, CT - George Bisacca Court at Alumni Hall (2,479)
Video: Jasper Sports Network
Audio
Live Stats
TODAY'S GAME
The 2016-17 season reaches its halfway point, as the Jaspers (5-9, 1-4 MAAC) begin a two-game road trip with a visit to Fairfield (6-8, 3-2 MAAC). Manhattan has dropped each of its last two games and is coming off a 53-36 loss to Rider on Thursday. The Stags, meanwhile, have won two straight, including a 61-57 triumph over Siena on Friday. Fairfield is the most common opponent in program history and one of three teams (along with Fordham and Saint Peter's) that Manhattan has faced every season since beginning varsity play in 1978-79.
ABOUT THE JASPERS
Manhattan (5-9, 1-4 MAAC) is looking to snap a two-game losing streak. In their last outing, the Jaspers dropped a 53-36 decision to Rider on Thursday. Junior guard Amani Tatum averages a team-high 11.0 points per game to go along with a league-leading 4.8 assists and 3.2 steals per contest. However, she missed the Rider contest with an ankle injury. Junior center Kayla Grimme registers 10.0 points per outing to go and ranks fifth in the MAAC with 7.1 rebounds a night. She also leads the league with 2.1 blocks per game. Senior guard Maeve Parahus tallies 6.6 points per contest and drains a team-best 1.7 three-pointers per outing. Junior guard Nyasha Irizarry, meanwhile, notches 5.0 points a night and sinks 1.6 treys per game. This is the start of a span where Manhattan plays four out of six on the road. The Jaspers return to Connecticut for a 7 p.m. matchup at first-place Quinnipiac (13-3, 6-0 MAAC) on Tuesday.
ABOUT THE STAGS
Fairfield (6-8, 3-2 MAAC) has won each of its last two games, including a 61-57 triumph over Siena on Friday. Senior forward Kelsey Carey leads the Stags and ranks sixth in the MAAC in scoring with an average of 14.7 points per game. She also pulls down 6.1 rebounds per contest. Junior forward Samantha Cooper leads the league with 8.3 boards per outing while also notching 12.6 points a night. She drains 2.1 three-pointers per game to paces the squad and paces the MAAC in minutes played (37.4 mpg). Cooper is averaging a double-double (11.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg) during conference play. Senior forward Casey Smith, meanwhile, registers 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest. Sophomore guard Kendra Landy is third in the MAAC with 3.3 assists per outing, and sophomore guard Casey Foley distributes 2.6 assists a night. The Stags will be off until Saturday, when they open a four-game road trip at Rider (10-4, 4-1 MAAC).
SERIES HISTORY
Manhattan has faced Fairfield more than any other opponent in program history. This is the 83rd all-time meeting between the Jaspers and Stags, and Fairfield leads the series 45-37. The squads split in 2015-16, with the road team winning each contest. Manhattan snapped Fairfield's eight-game winning streak in the series with a 70-55 victory at Alumni Hall on Jan. 8, 2016, while the Stags took the rematch at Draddy Gymnasium, 59-57, on Jan. 16, 2016.
LAST TIME OUT
Playing without leading scorer Amani Tatum, who is day-to-day with an ankle injury, the Jaspers suffered a 53-36 loss to Rider at Draddy Gymnasium on Thursday in a contest that was broadcast nationwide on ESPN3. The Broncs scored the first 12 points of the game and held a 29-10 lead at halftime. Rider's advantage was 41-22 after three quarters, and the Broncs extended the margin to a game-high 22 points, 49-27, midway thru the fourth quarter. Manhattan responded with a 7-0 run to trim its deficit to 49-34 before Rider finished off its 53-36 triumph. Nyasha Irizarry and Kayla Grimme led the Jaspers with six points apiece, while Irizarry pulled down six rebounds and Grimme added five boards and three assists. Julie Høier secured six rebounds, as well, tying her career-high.
