Lady Jaspers Open 2010-11 Season Friday Night

Manhattan-St. Francis (NY) Game Notes

TONIGHT'S GAME
Coming off a 15-15 season in 2009-10, Manhattan begins the 2010-11 campaign with a trip to Brooklyn for a matchup with St. Francis (NY).  This marks the third straight season in which the Lady Jaspers open up with the Terriers.  Manhattan was predicted to finish in a fourth-place tie in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, while St. Francis (NY), which went 2-27 last season, was picked 12th in the Northeast Conference Preseason Poll.

THE LADY JASPERS
Manhattan returns four starters and 10 letterwinners from last season's 15-15 squad.  Junior forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer, a Second Team All-MAAC selection in 2009-10, was named to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team.  She led Manhattan in both scoring (15.3 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg) last season.  Loutsenhizer also ranked among the top 10 in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.469) and free throw percentage (.815).  Senior guard Abby Wentworth started all 30 games last season and averaged 9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.  Junior forward Nadia Peters also started every game in 2009-10, averaging 7.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest.  She also led the Lady Jaspers with 1.6 blocks per game and shot .472 from the field last season.  In the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Manhattan was predicted to finish in a fourth-place tie with Fairfield.

THE TERRIERS
St. Francis (NY) posted a 2-27 record during the 2009-10 campaign.  The Terriers are led by sophomore forward Autumn Lau, who was named to the Northeast Conference All-Rookie Team last season.  Lau started all 29 games and paced the Terriers with 12.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in 2009-10.  Lau also led St. Francis (NY) with 78 three-pointers and a three-point percentage of .359 last season.  Senior guard Jacinda Williams averaged 6.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game last season, while senior Tiara Dunson started every game at point guard and handed out 3.1 assists per game.  Sophomore forward Kim Snauwaert contributed 4.7 points and 3.2 rebounds, while leading the Terriers with 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game last year.  The Terriers' next three opponents (Albany, Lafayette, Army) also play Manhattan this season, and St. Francis (NY) also takes on Fairfield.  St. Francis (NY) was tabbed to finish 12th in the NEC Preseason Poll.

SERIES HISTORY
This marks the third straight season in which Manhattan and St. Francis (NY) are squaring off on opening night.  The Lady Jaspers posted a 71-34 triumph last year at Draddy Gymnasium.  This is the 14th all-time meeting between the schools, and Manhattan has won 12 straight since St. Francis (NY) won the first matchup, 78-71, during the 1978-79 season.