GAME #24: Manhattan Jaspers (7-16, 3-11 MAAC) at Siena Saints (9-14, 8-6 MAAC)
Friday, February 10, 2017 - 7:00 PM
Loudonville, NY - Alumni Recreation Center (4,000)
Video: Time Warner Cable Sports Channel (ESPN3 Outside New York)
Live Stats
TONIGHT'S GAME
Manhattan (7-16, 3-11 MAAC) wraps up a three-game road trip, and a string where it played five out of six on the road, with a matchup against Siena (9-14, 8-6 MAAC) at the Alumni Recreation Center. The Jaspers posted a 68-66 victory over the Saints when the squads met at Draddy Gymnasium on Dec. 30. Manhattan has dropped each of its last two games, including a 65-42 defeat at Niagara on Saturday. After winning six straight, Siena also comes into the contest looking to snap a two-game losing streak. The Saints fell at Rider by a 72-70 count on Saturday.
ABOUT THE JASPERS
The Jaspers (7-16, 3-11 MAAC) are looking to rebound after suffering two straight losses, including a 65-42 defeat at Niagara on Saturday. Junior center Kayla Grimme tallies a team-high 12.8 points per game to go along with 7.6 rebounds per contest, fourth-most in the MAAC. She also leads the league with 1.9 blocks per outing. Junior guard Amani Tatum registers 10.9 points and 4.0 boards a night while also averaging 4.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Junior center Mikki Guiton contributes 6.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest, and senior guard Maeve Parahus drains a team-high 1.4 three-pointers per outing. Junior guard Nyasha Irizarry, meanwhile, sinks 1.3 treys a night. After playing five out of six on the road, Manhattan plays three of its next four at Draddy Gymnasium, starting with its annual “Play 4 Kay” game against Fairfield (12-11, 9-5 MAAC) at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
ABOUT THE SAINTS
After winning six straight, Siena (9-14, 8-6 MAAC) has dropped each of its last two contests. The Saints are coming off a 72-70 loss at Rider on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore guard Jackie Benitez is the MAAC's leading scorer with an average of 16.8 points per game. She also leads the league in steals (3.3 spg) and free throw percentage (.849), and she ranks second in the conference with 2.7 three-pointers per contest. Junior guard Kollys Scarbrough tallies 13.0 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per outing, while senior forward Meghan Donohue registers 12.8 points a night on a MAAC-best .570 shooting to go along with 5.5 rebounds per game. Senior guard Denisha Petty-Evans contributes 6.2 points and 2.0 assists per contest, while sophomore guard Deja Rawls distributes 3.0 assists per outing to pace the Saints. Siena returns home on Sunday for a 2 p.m. matchup with first-place Quinnipiac (18-6, 11-3 MAAC).
SERIES HISTORY
Manhattan has won each of its last two meetings against Siena, including a 68-66 victory at Draddy Gymnasium on Dec. 30. Prior to the Jaspers' current two-game winning streak, the Saints had taken nine out of 10 against Manhattan. Last season at the Alumni Recreation Center, Siena recorded a 60-59 triumph on Jan. 10, 2016. The last time Manhattan won in Loudonville was on Dec. 7, 2007, when they came away with a 57-52 victory. Siena leads the all-time series 41-22.
LAST TIME OUT
In their last outing, the Jaspers dropped a 65-42 decision to Niagara at the Gallagher Center on Saturday afternoon. Manhattan had an 8-7 lead with 3:39 left in the first quarter, but the Purple Eagles countered with an 8-0 run to go up 15-8, and Niagara led a 19-10 advantage at the end of the period. The Purple Eagles then outscored the Jaspers 26-9 in the second quarter to take a 45-19 cushion into halftime. After Niagara extended the margin to a game-high 30 points at 54-24, Manhattan pulled within 54-28 at the end of the third quarter before starting the final period on a 6-2 spurt to trim its deficit to 56-34. A late three-pointer by Nyasha Irizarry ended the scoring in Niagara's 65-42 victory. Kayla Grimme paced the Jaspers with 13 points and seven rebounds, while also recording five blocks.
PLAY 4 KAY
The Jaspers are wearing pink t-shirts, socks and shoelaces at tonight's game to show their support for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's “Play 4 Kay” initiative for breast cancer awareness. This is the 10th consecutive year in which Manhattan is taking part in the event. The Jaspers will also host a “Play 4 Kay” game at Draddy Gymnasium on Sunday, Feb. 12 against Fairfield.