Game 2: VCU Rams (0-1) at Manhattan Jaspers (0-1)
Wednesday, November 14, 2012-7 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: JasperVisionHD
Audio: www.gojaspers.com, www.vcuathletics.com
ABOUT THE GAME
The Jaspers (0-1) play their second straight home game to open the 2012-13 season tonight at Draddy Gymnasium against VCU (0-1). Manhattan is coming off a 63-60 overtime loss to Towson on Saturday afternoon. VCU also dropped its opener, 74-58 at Elon on Monday night. Both teams are coming off postseason appearances in 2012. Manhattan made the semifinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) for the second straight season, while VCU played in the 2012 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).
ABOUT THE JASPERS
Manhattan (0-1) lost in overtime, 63-60, to Towson in its season-opener on Saturday afternoon. Junior guard Monica Roeder, a Preseason Second Team All-MAAC selection, led the Jaspers with 13 points, while sophomore forward Ashley Stec tallied 10 points. Senior forward Toni-Ann Lawrence, who's playing in her 100th career game this evening, grabbed a team-best six rebounds to go along with eight points, three assists and a career-high five steals. Freshman forward Shayna Ericksen got the start against Towson and poured in eight points while playing a team-high 37 minutes. Sophomore guard Nicole Isaacs came off the bench on Saturday afternoon and established career-highs with nine points and three assists. Tonight's contest is also John Olenowski's 100th game as Manhattan's head coach. After tonight's game, the Jaspers hit the road for the first time this season to visit Cornell before returning home for a matchup with Fairleigh Dickinson.
ABOUT THE RAMS
VCU (0-1) opened the season with a 74-58 loss at Elon on Monday night. Freshman guard Jessica Pellechio had 18 points against Elon, while senior guard Carleeda Green contributed 13 points and five assists. Junior guard/forward Robyn Parks, the Rams' top returning rebounder, grabbed 10 boards in the contest, and junior forward Shenikah Henry added eight rebounds. Parks, the team's only returning starter, also paced all VCU returners with 6.6 points per game in 2011-12. Junior guard Zakia Williams chipped in with seven boards, three assists and four steals in the loss to Elon. The Rams, who went 19-15 and played in the Women's NIT last season, are in their first year as members of the Atlantic 10 after making the move from the Colonial Athletic Association. VCU was picked 13th in the Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll and is in the midst of a span where it opens the season by playing seven of its first nine games on the road.
SERIES HISTORY
This marks just the second all-time between Manhattan and VCU, and the first in 26 years. In the only previous matchup between the teams, the Rams notched a 77-62 victory in Richmond on Nov. 29, 1986. Manhattan went on to win its first MAAC title and make its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament that season. The Jaspers have never before hosted VCU.
LAST GAME--Towson 63, Manhattan 60 (OT)
The Jaspers dropped an overtime heartbreaker, 63-60, to Towson in their season-opener on Saturday afternoon. Toni-Ann Lawrence hit a layup to put Manhattan up 50-49 with 12 seconds remaining in regulation, but Towson's Tanisha McTiller sank a free throw five seconds later to send the game into overtime. A Monica Roeder trey and a Lawrence free throw put Manhattan up 60-58 late in the extra session before a McTiller layup tied the score again. After a Manhattan turnover, Ciara Webb drained a three-pointer with three seconds left to give Towson a 63-60 lead, and the Jaspers were unable to get a shot off. Roeder led the way for Manhattan with 13 points, while Ashley Stec chipped in 10 points. Lawrence finished with eight points to go along with six rebounds, three assists and a career-high five steals.