Manhattan Visits No. 14/16 St. John's Tuesday Night

Manhattan-St. John's Game Notes

TONIGHT'S GAME
After posting a 63-34 win over St. Francis (NY) in the season opener, Manhattan (0-1) makes the short trip to Queens for tonight's matchup with St. John's (1-1).  The Red Storm, who are ranked 14th by the AP and 16th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches'Poll, open their home schedule tonight.  Last weekend, St. John's opened its season at the Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic in Manhattan, Kans.  The Red Storm knocked off Marist, 64-50, before falling to host Kansas State, 64-53.

THE LADY JASPERS
The Lady Jaspers (1-0) notched a 63-34 victory over St. Francis (NY) in their season opener on Friday night.  The win was Manhattan's third straight season-opening triumph over the Terriers.  Freshman guard/forward Monica Roeder led the way with 20 points, including six three-pointers, in her first collegiate game.  Roeder also corralled five rebounds in the win.  Junior forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer, a Preseason First Team All-MAAC selection, added 11 points and seven rebounds, while senior guard Abby Wentworth grabbed seven boards to go along with five assists.  Sophomore guard Maggie Blair and junior guard/forward Schyanne Halfkenny both established career-highs with 11 points apiece.  After tonight's contest, Manhattan begins a four-game homestand on Friday night, when the University at Albany comes to Draddy Gymnasium for the Lady Jaspers' home opener.

THE RED STORM
St. John's (1-1) opened its season by taking second place at last weekend's Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic.  The Red Storm knocked off Marist, 64-50, on Friday before falling to host Kansas State, 64-53, in Saturday's championship game.  Sophomore Nadirah McKenith and junior Da'Shena Stevens were both named to the Wildcat Classic All-Tournament Team.  McKenith currently leads the Red Storm in both scoring (16.0 ppg) and assists (2.0 apg).  Stevens, a First Team All-Big East selection and Honorable Mention All-American in 2009-10, is averaging 13.5 points and 8.5 rebounds through two games this season.  Sophomore guard Shennika Smith averages 10.5 points per game, while senior forward Centhya Hart leads the Red Storm with 11.0 rebounds per game.  St. John's, which was picked to finish fifth in the Big East, is ranked 14th (AP) and 16th (ESPN/USA Today) in this week's national polls. 

SERIES HISTORY
Manhattan and St. John's have met 11 previous times, and the Red Storm have won all 11 meetings in a series that began in the 1979-80 season.  The squads last played on Nov. 22, 2009, when the Red Storm notched a 63-54 victory at Draddy Gymnasium.  The Lady Jaspers and Red Storm haven't played in Carnesecca Arena since a 56-53 St. John's triumph on Nov. 16, 1997.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME
Manhattan opened the 2010-11 season with a dominating 63-34 victory at St. Francis (NY) on Friday night.  The Terriers led 11-8 before a pair of Monica Roeder three-pointers, followed by another from Lindsey Loutsenhizer, put Manhattan in front 17-11.  The Lady Jaspers held St. Francis (NY) to one point over the final 13:06 of the first half and led 23-12 at the break.  It was more of the same in the second half, as Manhattan used a 21-1 run over an 8:04 span to make it a 30-point game, and the Lady Jaspers cruised to a 63-34 victory.  Roeder finished with a game-high 20 points in her collegiate debut, and Maggie Blair and Schyanne Halfkenny each posted a career-high with 11 points.  Loutsenhizer tallied 11 points and seven rebounds, while Abby Wentworth also grabbed seven boards.