Manhattan-Wright State Game Notes
Game 33 (WBI Quarterfinals): Manhattan Lady Jaspers (23-9) at Wright State Raiders (20-12)Sunday, March 20, 2011-2 p.m.Dayton, Ohio-Nutter Center (11,019) Live Webcast: www.wsuraiders.com (FREE)Live Audio: www.wsuraiders.com
TODAY'S GAME
The Lady Jaspers (23-9) hit the road this afternoon for a matchup against Wright State (20-12) in the quarterfinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational. Manhattan, the No. 5 seed in the East Region, began the postseason with a 52-48 victory over fourth-seeded Sacred Heart in the first round on Thursday night. The top-seeded Raiders knocked off No. 8 Buffalo by an 82-79 count on Wednesday night. The winner of today's game faces either UAB or Elon in the WBI semifinals.
THE LADY JASPERS
Manhattan (23-9) picked up its first postseason win since 1983 with a 52-48 triumph over Sacred Heart in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitational on Thursday night. Senior guard Abby Wentworth, a First Team All-MAAC selection, paces the Lady Jaspers in scoring, averaging 14.2 points per game. She also leads the league in assists (4.2 apg) and ranks second in the MAAC in steals (3.0 spg). Freshman guard/forward Monica Roeder, who was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team, contributes 9.4 points per game, while junior forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer, a Third Team All-MAAC choice, ranks third on the squad in scoring (8.8 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.8 rpg). Manhattan's leading rebounder in junior forward Nadia Peters, who corrals 6.2 boards per outing. Peters also ranks third in the MAAC with 2.7 steals per game and fourth with 1.2 blocks per contest.
THE RAIDERS
Wright State (20-12) earned the first postseason berth in program history after finishing fourth in the Horizon League this season. The Raiders, who lost to Green Bay in the semifinals of the conference tournament, opened the Women's Basketball Invitational with an 82-79 win over Buffalo on Wednesday night. Senior guard LaShawna Thomas, a First Team All-Horizon League selection, paces the Raiders with 18.6 points per game. She also hands out 5.6 assists and grabs 5.7 rebounds per contest. Junior forward Molly Fox was named Second Team All-Horizon League. Fox pulls down 9.3 rebounds to go along with 15.0 points per game. Junior guard Maria Bennett drains 2.8 three-pointers per contest. Senior forward Shauna Sandifer, who joined the basketball team this season after completing her volleyball career, earned place on the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team after collecting 9.0 rebounds per outing.
SERIES HISTORY
Today's matchup is the first all-time meeting between Manhattan and Wright State. The Raiders are the Lady Jaspers' second first-time opponent of the season. Manhattan defeated NJIT 62-48 on Dec. 1. The Lady Jaspers have faced just two current members of the Horizon League. Manhattan is 2-0 against Youngstown State and lost its only meeting with Loyola (IL).
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME
In the first home postseason game in program history, the Lady Jaspers notched a 52-48 victory over Sacred Heart in the first round of the WBI. Manhattan got off to a quick start, as Monica Roeder drained a pair of three-pointers in the first minute of the game, and the Lady Jaspers had a 14-point lead, 34-20, at intermission. Sacred Heart outscored Manhattan 15-2 to start the second half, trimming its deficit to one at 36-35. The Lady Jaspers responded with a 10-2 run to bring the lead back to nine before the Pioneers rallied to tie it at 48-48. However, Sacred Heart was held scoreless the rest of the way, and Manhattan held on for a 52-48 triumph, its first postseason win since 1983. Roeder led the Lady Jaspers with 14 points, while Lindsey Loutsenhizer grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds.
POSTSEASON HISTORY
This season marks the fifth national postseason appearance in the program's 33-year history. Manhattan has played in the NCAA Tournament four times, most recently in 2003, when it lost to Mississippi State in the first round in Albuquerque, N.M. The Lady Jaspers also played in the ECAC Tournament in both 1982 and 1983, winning a game each time. Prior to Thursday night's 52-48 victory over Sacred Heart, Manhattan's last postseason win was a 70-66 victory over Fairfield in the 1983 ECAC semifinals.
TOURNAMENT SCENARIOS
Today's winner moves into the WBI semifinals against UAB or Elon on either Wednesday or Thursday. Wright State would host that game with a victory, while the Lady Jaspers will go on the road if they win today. In the West Region, Chicago State takes on the winner of tonight's matchup between Cal State Bakersfield and South Dakota in the WBI semifinals.
