Manhattan-Canisius Game Notes
Game 20: Manhattan Lady Jaspers (13-6, 5-3 MAAC) at Canisius Golden Griffins (6-13, 2-6 MAAC)Friday, January 28, 2011-4:30 p.m.Buffalo, N.Y.-Koessler Athletic Center (2,176) TV: ESPNU (Doug Sherman and Kayte Christensen)Live Audio: www.gogriffs.com
TODAY'S GAME
The Lady Jaspers (13-6, 5-3 MAAC) open a three-game road trip with this afternoon's matchup at Canisius (6-13, 2-6 MAAC), which is being nationally televised on ESPNU. Manhattan has won five out of six, including a 63-47 home victory over Rider on Monday night. Canisius has dropped two straight and is coming off a 73-58 loss at Iona on Sunday. This is the first meeting of the season between the Lady Jaspers and Griffs, who will meet again in Riverdale on Super Bowl Sunday.
THE LADY JASPERS
Manhattan (13-6, 5-3 MAAC) topped Rider 63-47 on Monday night for its fifth win in six games. Senior guard Abby Wentworth, who had a career-high nine assists against the Broncs, leads the MAAC in both scoring (14.7 ppg) and assists (4.4 apg). She also ranks second in the league (and 13th in the nation) with 3.3 steals per game. Junior forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer contributes 8.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. A .925 free throw shooter, Loutsenhizer has made her last 19 free throw attempts. Junior forward Nadia Peters leads Manhattan with 5.9 rebounds per game and ranks third in the MAAC with 2.3 steals per contest. She also ranks third in the conference with 1.4 blocks per game and distributes 1.9 assists per outing. The Lady Jaspers continue their three-game road trip at Niagara on Sunday, then return to Upstate New York for a showdown with Siena next Friday.
THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS
Canisius (6-13, 2-6 MAAC) has dropped two straight and five out of six. The Griffs are coming off a 73-58 loss at Iona on Sunday. Sophomore guard Ashley Durham is the team's leading scorer, averaging 11.2 points per game. She also distributes 2.7 assists per contest. Freshman forward Jamie Ruttle contributes 9.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, while freshman guard Jen Morabito averages 8.9 points per outing and is shooting .400 from three-point range. Freshman forward Courtney VandeBovenkamp is the team's leading rebounder with 4.9 boards per game, while junior guard Steph MacDonald pulls down 4.7 rebounds per contest. MacDonald also leads the squad with 1.5 steals per game. Ruttle, Morabito, VandeBovenkamp and freshman forward Jen Lennox have all been named MAAC Rookie of the Week this season, setting a new MAAC record for selections from one team in a season.
SERIES HISTORY
Manhattan and Canisius split the season series in 2009-10, with each side winning at home. The Griffs posted a 69-65 double-overtime victory in Buffalo on Jan. 11 before the Lady Jaspers returned the favor with a 78-71 win at Draddy Gymnasium on Feb. 21. That Manhattan victory snapped the Lady Jaspers' three-game losing streak in the series. Canisius holds a 28-18 all-time edge.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME
In one of their most efficient offensive performances of the season, the Lady Jaspers led from wire-to-wire in a 63-47 victory over Rider on "Hoops for Cancer Night" at Draddy Gymnasium on Monday. The Lady Jaspers distributed a season-high 21 assists on 22 successful field goals, a staggering rate of 95.5 percent. Manhattan used a 13-0 run to pull in front 18-4 midway through the first half and led 24-17 at halftime. The Lady Jaspers extended their advantage to 13 points early in the second half. After Rider got back within seven, Manhattan went on a 16-5 run to open up a 61-43 lead with 3:16 left, then held on for a 63-47 victory. As a team, Manhattan drained 10 three-pointers in the game. Alyssa Herrington hit five treys and finished with 15 points, while Abby Wentworth had 11 points and a career-high nine assists.
