Game Notes
GAME #26: Manhattan Jaspers (7-18, 3-13 MAAC) at Monmouth Hawks (12-12, 7-8 MAAC)
Thursday, February 16, 2017 - 5:00 PM
West Long Branch, NJ - OceanFirst Bank Center (4,100)
Video: ESPN3
Live Stats
TODAY'S GAME
Manhattan (7-18, 3-13 MAAC) takes on Monmouth (12-12, 7-8 MAAC) for the first time this season in a contest that will be broadcast national on ESPN3. This is the third consecutive season in which a Manhattan-Monmouth matchup is being featured on the MAAC broadcast package. The Jaspers, who are playing on the road for the sixth time in eight games, are looking to snap a four-game skid. Manhattan is coming off a 64-43 home loss to Fairfield on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks, meanwhile, have won two straight, including a 75-65 victory over Iona on Sunday.
ABOUT THE JASPERS
The Jaspers have dropped four straight, including a 64-43 home loss to Fairfield on Sunday afternoon. Junior center Kayla Grimme is Manhattan's leading scorer with an average of 13.0 points per game. She also ranks second in the MAAC with 8.0 rebounds per contest and leads the league with 2.1 blocks per outing. Junior guard Amani Tatum, meanwhile, hands out a conference-high 4.6 assists a night to go along with 2.8 steals per game, third-most in the conference. Tatum also notches 10.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per contests, and she ranks third in the MAAC with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.2. Junior center Mikki Guiton contributes 6.5 points per outing, while senior guard Maeve Parahus and junior guard Nyasha Irizarry each drain 1.4 treys a night to lead the team. Manhattan and Monmouth will meet again at Draddy Gymnasium on Feb. 24, but first the Jaspers host Quinnipiac (20-6, 13-3 MAAC) for Senior Day at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
ABOUT THE HAWKS
Monmouth (12-12, 7-8 MAAC) has won each of its last two contests, including a 75-65 victory over Iona on Sunday. Freshman guard Kayla Shaw paces the Hawks with 11.4 points per game, and she's the MAAC leader in both three-pointers per contest (3.0) and three-point percentage (.409). As a team, Monmouth drains a conference-high 9.2 treys per outing. Senior guard Tyese Purvis sinks 2.5 three-pointers a night and tallies 11.2 points per game, while freshman forward Taylor Nason grabs a team-best 7.0 rebounds per contest. Senior foward Christina Mitchell corrals 6.7 boards per outing to go along with 1.3 blocks a night. Freshman guard Alaina Jarnot, meanwhile, distributes 3.2 assists per contest to rank fifth in the MAAC. Monmouth begins a three-game road trip at Marist (11-15, 8-8 MAAC) on Saturday, and the Hawks will also visit first-place Rider (20-6, 14-3 MAAC) before the rematch with the Jaspers at Draddy Gymnasium.
SERIES HISTORY
Monmouth was the only MAAC team to sweep Manhattan last season. The Hawks have won five straight over the Jaspers and are 5-1 against Manhattan since joining the league. Last season, Monmouth notched a 72-62 victory in New Jersey on Feb. 2, 2016, then registered a 57-56 win at Draddy Gymnasium on Feb. 11, 2016. The Jaspers' last win over Monmouth was a 65-59 triumph in Riverdale on Dec. 31, 2013. Overall, Monmouth leads the all-time series 11-9.
LAST TIME OUT
In its annual “Play 4 Kay” game for breast cancer awareness, Manhattan dropped a 64-43 decision to Fairfield at Draddy Gymnasium on Sunday. The Stags scored the first nine points of the contest and led 22-10 after one quarter. Manhattan scored the first six points of the second quarter to pull within six at 22-16, but Fairfield responded with six straight points of its own, and the Stags held a 33-20 edge at halftime. Fairfield then increasied its advantage to 53-30 entering the fourth quarter. The Jaspers opened the final period on an 8-0 run to pull within 53-38 before Fairfield closed out a 64-43 win. Kayla Grimme finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double. Amani Tatum added 12 points and three assists, while Taylor Williams recorded seven points and four rebounds.