Game Notes
GAME #16: Manhattan Jaspers (5-10, 1-5 MAAC) at Quinnipiac Bobcats (13-3, 6-0 MAAC)
Tuesday, January 10, 2017 - 7:00 PM
Hamden, CT - TD Bank Sports Center (3,300)
Video: QU All-Access
Live Stats
TONIGHT'S GAME
Manhattan (5-10, 1-5 MAAC) concludes its two-game Connecticut swing with a visit to first-place Quinnipiac (13-3, 6-0 MAAC). The Jaspers, who are looking to snap a three-game skid, are coming off a 71-56 loss at Fairfield on Sunday afternoon. The Bobcats, meanwhile, have won five straight and seven out of eight. Quinnipiac completed a sweep of the Buffalo trip with a 64-53 victory at Canisius on Saturday. Manhattan is the only MAAC team (and one of just three teams period) to leave the TD Bank Sports Center with a victory since the start of the 2014-15 season.
ABOUT THE JASPERS
The Jaspers (5-10, 1-5 MAAC) have dropped each of their last three contests, including a 71-56 defeat at Fairfield on Sunday afternoon. Senior center Kayla Grimme had 19 points against the Stags and is averaging 10.6 points per game on the season. She leads the Jaspers with 6.9 rebounds per contest and paces the MAAC with 1.9 blocks per outing. Grimme also ranks second in the league in free throw percentage (.821). Senior guard Maeve Parahus tallies 6.3 points a night and drains a team-best 1.7 three-pointers per game. Junior guard Nyasha Irizarry contributes 5.8 points per contest, while freshman guard Gabby Cajou, who had a career-high 18 points against Fairfield, records 5.4 points per outing to go along with 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals a night. After playing two straight on the road, Manhattan begins a two-game homestand on Sunday with a 2 p.m. matchup against Niagara (4-11, 1-5 MAAC).
ABOUT THE BOBCATS
Quinnipiac (13-3, 6-0 MAAC) picked up its fifth straight win, a 64-53 decision at Canisius, on Saturday. The first-place Bobcats, who are undefeated in conference play, have won 23 consecutive regular season MAAC games dating back to 2015-16. Senior guard Adily Martucci paces Quinnpiac with 10.3 points per game, and she sinks 1.4 three-pointers per contest. Sophomore forward Jen Fay tallies 10.1 points per outing, while ophomore forward Paula Strautmane contributes 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds a night. Sophomore guard/forward Aryn McClure, meanwhile, registers 8.1 points per game to go along with team-leading totals of 6.7 boards, 2.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per contest. As a team, the Bobcats average a league-best 70.2 points per game. Quinnipiac also leads the MAAC in scoring defense (59.6 ppg). Following the game, the Bobcats will get six days off before hosting Fairfield (7-8, 4-2 MAAC) on Monday.
SERIES HISTORY
The Jaspers and Bobcats split the season series in 2015-16, with the road team winning each contest. Manhattan's 52-42 victory at the TD Bank Sports Center on Dec. 6, 2015 was its first-ever win over the Bobcats. It was also one of just two home losses for Quinnipiac last season (the other came in the WNIT), and the Bobcats' only home MAAC loss since 2013-14. The Bobcats beat the Jaspers by an 81-63 count at Draddy Gymnasium on Feb. 23, 2016 and are 7-1 all-time against Manhattan.
LAST TIME OUT
Manhattan got a combined 37 points from Kayla Grimme on Sunday afternoon, but it was not enough in a 71-56 loss to Fairfield at Alumni Hall. It was tied at 6-6 early on before Fairfield went on a 16-4 run to take a 22-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Stags led 34-24 at the break and held a 36-24 advantage when Manhattan went on a 7-0 rally to pull within five, 36-31. However, Fairfield responded with an 11-3 spurt and held a 55-41 cushion entering the final period. The Stags built their largest lead of the game, a 67-48 margin, with 3:57 remaining, and notched a 71-56 victory. Grimme led the Jaspers with 19 points and five rebounds, while Cajou tallied a career-high 18 points to go along with four boards. KellyAnne O'Reilly added six points, and Maeve Parahus and Taylor Williams grabbed four rebounds apiece.