Game 1: Towson Tigers (0-0) at Manhattan Jaspers (0-0)
Saturday, November 10, 2012-2 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: JasperVisionHD
Audio: www.gojaspers.com
ABOUT THE GAME
After going 18-16 and advancing to the semifinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) for the second straight season in 2011-12, Manhattan (0-0) opens its 2012-13 campaign this afternoon against Towson (0-0) at Draddy Gymnasium. The Jaspers are opening the season at home for the first time since 2009-10. Towson went 18-16 in 2011-12, marking its first winning season since 2008-09. The Tigers were picked to finish ninth in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Preseason Poll.
ABOUT THE JASPERS
Manhattan (18-16) reached the semifinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) for the second consecutive season in 2011-12. The Jaspers graduated three starters from that team, but return junior guard Monica Roeder, who was selected to the Preseason All-MAAC Second Team. Roeder is Manhattan's top returning scorer. She averaged 9.4 points per game last season. Roeder also shot .359 from three-point range and ranked fifth in the MAAC with 1.8 treys per outing in 2011-12. Senior forward Toni-Ann Lawrence started 32 games last year and grabbed 3.5 rebounds a night, the most among returning Jaspers. Lawrence also recorded 1.4 steals per game last season. Junior guard Allison Skrec notched 2.5 assists per outing, while senior guard/forward Maggie Blair handed out 1.9 assists per game in 2011-12. The Jaspers are opening at home for the first time in three seasons and play seven of their first 10 games in Riverdale.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Towson (0-0) is coming off a 16-14 campagin in 2011-12. The Tigers return two starters from that team, including junior guard Tanisha McTiller, who averaged 11.1 points per game last season. McTiller also grabbed 4.2 rebounds per contest and led the Tigers with 1.6 steals per outing in 2011-12. The team's best three-point option, she shot .310 from beyond the arc last season. The other returning starter is junior forward Nyree Williams. She paced Towson in both rebounding and blocks last season, averaging 7.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. Sophomore guard Destiny Shearin contributed 2.8 points and 2.0 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per game off the bench in 2011-12, while sophomore guard Ciara Webb played 12.0 minutes per game and posted 2.5 points per contest. Towson went 7-11 in the Colonial Athletic Association last season, and was tabbed to finish in a tie for ninth place in this year's CAA Preseason Poll.
SERIES HISTORY
Manhattan and Towson are meeting for just the second time. In the only previous matchup between the squads, the Jaspers recorded a 60-44 victory over the Tigers on Nov. 29, 1987. That contest, which was also the season-opener, took place on a neutral court as a part of the Siena Tournament. This marks the first time that the Jaspers and Tigers have ever played in Riverdale.
FOR STARTERS
The Jaspers are starting the season at home for the first time since 2009-10 and just the second time in the last six campaigns. Manhattan saw its three-game winning streak in season openers snapped with a 64-45 defeat at Hartford in the first round of the 2011 Preseason WNIT. The Jaspers boast an 18-16 record all-time in season openers.