Manhattan-Holy Cross Game Notes
Game 6: Holy Cross Crusaders (3-3) at Manhattan Jaspers (1-4)
Saturday, December 1, 2012-4 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Live Video: JasperVision HD
Live Audio: www.gojaspers.com, www.goholycross.com
ABOUT THE GAME
The Jaspers (1-4) begin a three-game homestand this afternoon with a rematch of their 2012 Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) quarterfinal against Holy Cross (3-3) at Draddy Gymnasium. The Jaspers won that WBI contest by a 78-63 count. Manhattan has dropped three straight, including a 55-45 loss at rival Fordham in the annual "Battle of the Bronx" on Wednesday night. Holy Cross has won its last two games and is coming off a 57-56 buzzer-beating victory over Central Connecticut State on Wednesday night.
ABOUT THE JASPERS
Manhattan (1-4), which fell to rival Fordham by a 55-45 count on Wednesday night, is looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Junior guard Monica Roeder averages a team-high 14.2 points per game and sinks a MAAC-best 3.2 three-pointers per contest. Senior forward Toni-Ann Lawrence adds 10.8 points per outing, while freshman forward Shayna Ericksen, the current MAAC Rookie of the Week, contributes 10.8 points and a team-leading 7.4 rebounds a night. Senior guard Ondya Morgan leads the Jaspers in both assists and steals. She tallies 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals a night. As a team, Manhattan leads the MAAC in both field goal percentage (.409) and turnover margin (+5.2). Today's contest marks the start of a three-game homestand for the Jaspers, who take on their second straight Patriot League opponent on Tuesday night, when Army visits Draddy Gymnasium.
ABOUT THE CRUSADERS
Holy Cross (3-3) has won two straight, including a buzzer-beating 57-56 victory over Central Connecticut on Wednesday night. Junior guard Alex Smith, who was a First Team All-Patriot League selection last season, paces the Crusaders in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game. She also rains 3.2 three-pointers a night to rank second in the Patriot League, and is second on the squad (and in the conference) with 4.8 assists per contest. Junior forward Christine Ganser contributes 11.0 points and a team-leading 7.2 rebounds per outing, while junior guard Brisje Malone tallies 11.0 points per game. Malone tops the Patriot League in assists (5.3 apg) and assist/turnover ratio (2.3), and also leads the team in steals (2.2 spg). Sophomore forward Emily Parker, a 2011-12 Patriot League All-Rookie Team member, adds 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds a night. After playing five of their first six at home, this is the first of eight consecutive road games for the Crusaders.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the 19th all-time meeting between Manhattan and Holy Cross, with the Crusaders holding a 10-8 edge in the series. Last year's 78-63 Manhattan victory in the quarterfinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) represented the first matchup between the teams since March 10, 1990, when the Jaspers beat the Crusaders 78-69 in the MAAC Championship Game.
LAST GAME--Fordham 55, Manhattan 45
In the 44th "Battle of the Bronx," the Jaspers dropped a 55-45 decision to local rival Fordham at Rose Hill Gym on Wednesday night. Manhattan trailed 24-19 before going on a 5-0 run to even the score, 24-24, at halftime. The Rams led by six, 38-32, midway through the second half, but the Jaspers responded with a pair of buckets to cut the margin to two. However, Fordham went on a 13-3 run over the next five minutes to increase their lead to 12 points, 53-41, with 3:07 remaining. Manhattan trimmed its deficit to eight, but got no closer, and Fordham held on for a 55-45 win. Shayna Ericksen finished one rebound shy of her second straight double-double, notching team-highs with 11 points and nine boards. Toni-Ann Lawrence added 10 points, while Monica Roeder contributed nine points and a career-high five assists.
TRACK CENTENNIAL
At halftime of today's game, there will be a special ceremony recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Manhattan track & field program. More than 50 alumni from the program's illustrious history will be honored, including two-time Olympic gold medalist Lindy Remigino and members of the Jaspers' 1973 NCAA championship team.
