Manhattan-Oakland Game Notes
Game 8: Oakland Golden Grizzlies (5-3) at Manhattan Jaspers (1-6)
Saturday, December 8, 2102-2 p.m.
Riverdale, N.Y.-Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: JasperVision HD
Audio: www.gojaspers.com
ABOUT THE GAME
The Jaspers (1-6) conclude a three-game homestand with this afternoon's matchup against Oakland (5-3) at Draddy Gymnasium. Manhattan, which is looking to snap a five-game losing streak, dropped a 54-49 decision to Army on Tuesday night. The Golden Grizzlies saw their two-game winning streak snapped by Michigan State, 75-43, on Wednesday night. After today's game, the Jaspers have nine days off for finals before resuming the season with a matchup at Sacred Heart on Dec. 17.
ABOUT THE JASPERS
Manhattan (1-6) has lost five straight, including a 54-49 defeat against Army on Tuesday. The Jaspers are in the midst of their first five-game losing streak since Jan. 18-Feb. 1, 2009. Junior guard Monica Roeder paces the Jaspers offensively. She averages 12.4 points per game and sinks 2.4 three-pointers per contest. Freshman forward Shayna Ericksen recorded her second double-double of the season against Army. She pulls down a team-best 7.4 rebounds per game and also ranks second on the squad in scoring (11.4 ppg). Senior forward Toni-Ann Lawrence contributes 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, while senior guard Ondya Morgan leads the Jaspers in both assists and steals. She hands out 3.3 assists per outing to go along with 2.6 steals a night. After taking a week off for finals, the Jaspers play five of their next seven contests on the road, starting with a matchup at defending NEC champion Sacred Heart on Dec. 17.
ABOUT THE GOLDEN GRIZZLIES
Oakland (5-3) is coming off a 75-43 loss to Michigan State that snapped a two-game winning streak. Despite coming off the bench in every game, freshman guard Annemarie Hamlet leads the Golden Grizziles in scoring (11.9 ppg). She's also Oakland's top three-point shooter, draining 2.4 treys per contest, and is shooting .514 from long range. Freshman forward Olivia Nash is averaging a double-double for the season. She tallies 11.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per outing. Freshman guard Elena Popkey contributes 9.6 points and 5.9 boards a night, while junior guard Victoria Lipscomb paces the Golden Grizzlies in both assists (3.4 apg) and steals (2.5 spg). Oakland, which was picked to finish third in the Summit League this season, has already faced a pair of MAAC opponents this season. The Golden Grizzlies defeated Canisius and fell to Niagara. Oakland's next two games are against ranked opponents, No. 13/14 Purdue and No. 2 Connecticut.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first all-time meeting between Manhattan and Oakland in any sport. Oakland is one of two first-time opponents on the Jaspers' 2011-12 schedule, joining Ohio. Manhattan has taken on one current member of the Summit League previously, having posted a 63-56 victory over UMKC on Dec. 30, 1999. The Jaspers also went 1-1 against Northern Illinois and 1-0 against Youngstown State when those schools were members of the conference.
LAST GAME--Army 54, Manhattan 49
Manhattan rallied from as many as 16 down to within three late, but ultimately ran out of time in a 54-49 loss to Army at Draddy Gymnasium on Tuesday night. Army led 31-18 at halftime and extended its margin to 16 points with a three-pointer on the first possession of the second half. After going up 47-36 with 8:43 remaining, the Black Knights were held without a field goal for the remainder of the contest. Manhattan trimmed its deficit to five at 52-47 after a layup and free throw by Toni-Ann Lawrence at the 2:38 mark, then Maggie Blair drained a pair of free throws to make it a one-possession game with eight seconds remaining. However, the Jaspers were forced to foul, and Army hit two free throws to clinch a 54-49 victory. Shayna Ericksen had her second double-double of the season for the Jaspers. She matched a career-high with 16 points to go along with a career-high 12 rebounds.
