Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 2:00 PM
Draddy Gymnasium | Riverdale, NY
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RIVERDALE, NY - All eyes are set on Atlantic City and the 2025 Hercules Tires MAAC Championships beginning on Tuesday, March 11, but theres still work to be done. The Jaspers took care of business on Thursday with its largest margin of victory of the season against the Canisius Golden Griffins, and clinched a berth into the postseason tournament in the process. The Green and White also held Canisius to just 35 points on the night, which was Manhattan's lowest total surrendered to its opponent this season. Their upcoming opponent, the Niagara Purple Eagles took down the Iona Gaels on Thursday evening for its first MAAC victory of the season. The last time these two teams met, saw the Jaspers log a 25 point victory against Niagara. The final home game of the season will feature a quartet of seniors, Ines Gimenez Monserrat, Nitzan Amar, Caroline de Klauman, and Leyla Ozturk.
Scouting the Opposition
•The Niagara Purple Eagles were the reigning MAAC runner-ups from a season ago. It fell to the Fairfield Stags in the 2023-24 MAAC Championship game.
•Head Coach Jada Pierce is in her 10th season as head coach of the Purple Eagles.
•Manhattan and Niagara will be meeting for the 73rd time, with the northern most MAAC school leading the way with 38 victories historically.
•Niagara snapped an 18-game losing skid after securing its first MAAC victory on Thursday in an upset against the Iona Gaels in New Rochelle by a score of 61-56.
•Junior forward Amelia Strong, who was the third leading scorer for the Purple Eagles a season ago, has only played in 13 games and started in 12, due to injury.
•Preseason All-MAAC First Teamer and senior guard Aaliyah Parker has yet to play in a game this season for Niagara. Parker, was the leading scorer in 2023-24.
•Georgian Court transfer Safiatu Kolliegbo ranks second in the MAAC in steals with 64 total, and averaging 2.6 steals-per-game.
•The last meeting against the Jaspers was a 25 points victory for Manhattan inside the Gallagher Center. A Niagara-powered second quarter was not enough for the Purple Eagles in the 79-54 win.
•The Purple Eagles went 342 days between victories against Division I opponents.
•In the 2023 MAAC Championships, Manhattan took down Niagara inside Boardwalk Hall by a score of 81-68. That effectively ended the Purple Eagles season.
•Niagara was selected to finish third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
Last Five Meetings:
Manhattan Leads 3-2
1/18/25...................................MAN 79-54
2/08/24...................................NIA 88-63
1/18/24...................................MAN 64-53
3/10/23...................................MAN 81-68
1/19/23.....................................NIA 74-40