TODAY'S GAME
The Lady Jaspers (12-5, 4-2 MAAC) return home for the first time in two weeks for this afternoon's matchup with first-place Marist (15-2, 6-0 MAAC). Manhattan has won four straight, including a 52-44 victory at Fairfield on Sunday, while Marist comes into the contest on an 11-game winning streak. The Red Foxes defeated Niagara 95-48 on Sunday afternoon. It's Alumni Day at Draddy Gymnasium, and the Lady Jaspers are happy to welcome back a number of former players and their families.
THE LADY JASPERS
After playing four games in nine days, Manhattan (12-5, 4-2 MAAC) has been off since a 52-44 victory at Fairfield on Sunday. The Lady Jaspers enter today's game the winners of four straight. Senior guard Abby Wentworth was named MAAC Player of the Week after averaging 21.3 points and 4.3 steals in three wins last week. Wentworth is the MAAC's leading scorer with an average of 14.6 points per game. She also leads the Lady Jaspers in assists (4.2 apg) and steals (3.4 spg). Junior forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer ranks second on the squad in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 8.9 points and 5.3 boards per contest. Junior forward Nadia Peters grabs a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game. She also ranks second in the MAAC with 1.5 blocks per game and third in the league with 2.4 steals per outing. Manhattan ranks third in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 49.5 points per game.
THE RED FOXES
Five-time defending MAAC champion Marist (15-2, 6-0 MAAC) is the only remaining undefeated team in conference play and brings an 11-game winning streak into today's contest. The Red Foxes are coming off a 95-48 win at Niagara on Sunday afternoon. Senior guard Erica Allenspach, the MAAC Preseason Player of the Year, leads the Red Foxes with 13.5 points and 1.9 steals per game. She is also tied for the team lead in assists (3.1 apg) and boasts a MAAC-best assist/turnover ratio of 3.1. Junior guard Corielle Yarde was also named to the Preseason All-MAAC First Team. She averages 11.9 points and a team-leading 5.8 rebounds per game. Junior forward Brandy Gang leads the MAAC with a free throw percentage of .950, while senior guard Elise Caron is tied for the team lead with 3.1 assists per game. As a team, Marist commits just 11.2 turnovers per game, the fewest in the country.
SERIES HISTORY
The Lady Jaspers snapped a 14-game losing streak against Marist with a 65-62 victory over the Red Foxes at Draddy Gymnasium in last year's regular season finale on Feb. 27, 2010. Prior to that game, Manhattan's last win over Marist was a 56-42 triumph in Riverdale on Jan. 9, 2004. Overall, the Lady Jaspers hold a 22-17 edge in the all-time series.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME
In a hard-fought defensive struggle between the top two defenses in the MAAC, the Lady Jaspers posted a 52-44 victory over Fairfield at Alumni Hall on Sunday afternoon. Manhattan used a 9-0 run late in the first half to open up a 25-18 halftime advantage, then extended its lead to 34-22 early in the second half. However, Fairfield responded with an 18-5 run to take a one-point lead, 40-39, with 3:49 left. On the Stags' next possession, Toni-Ann Lawrence's steal and coast-to-coast layup put Manhattan back in front. Lindsey Loutsenhizer hit a trey on the Lady Jaspers' next possession, and Manhattan pulled away for the eight-point victory. Abby Wentworth finished with 19 points and six steals to lead the Lady Jaspers, while Loutsenhizer notched 13 points and eight rebounds. Lawrence added nine points and eight boards.
HOMECOMING QUEENS
Assistant coach Caitlin Flood won't be the only former Lady Jasper in attendance at this afternoon's game. Today is Alumni Day at Draddy Gymnasium, and the Lady Jaspers are proud to welcome back some of the greatest players ever to wear a Manhattan uniform. Among those in attendance are 2010 graduate Michelle Pacheco, a First Team All-MAAC selection last season; Kelly Regan, Manhattan's last 1,000-point scorer who was named Second Team All-MAAC as a senior in 2008-09; Aubrie Dellinger (Class of 2008), a MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree in 2004-05; Mary Kacic '02, the school record-holder for three-point percentage in a season (.500 in 2001-02); and Lisa Toscano '79, the team's first captain.