Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | 12:00 PM
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall | Atlantic City, NJ
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ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The Jaspers return to Atlantic City for another Hercules Tires MAAC Championship appearance, and are set to face the Golden Griffins of Canisius University for the second time this season, and the second time in nearly two weeks. The last time the two programs met, was a night where Manhattan held its opponent to a season low, 35 points inside Draddy Gymnasium. The last time these two teams met in Atlantic City? Just 360 days ago inside Boardwalk Hall, where the Golden Griffins got the best of Manhattan in a hard-fought battle down to the second 58-55. Senior guard Nitzan Amar has led her team averaging 11.0 points-per-game in the last five games. While the team as a whole, has outscored its opponent by an average of +9.4 points-per-game. Coming off a career-high afternoon was senior forward Leyla Ozturk, who netted 23 points at Siena in the regular season finale.
Scouting the Opposition:
•The Golden Griffins are led by first year head coach Tiffany Swoffard, the 11th head coach in the history of the Canisius women's basketball program.
•Swoffard hails from the Penn State Nittany Lions women's basketball program, where she was an assistant coach last season.
•Sophomore forward Shariah Gailes sits third in the MAAC averaging 8.3 rebounds-per-game in 28 games played. Gailes sits behind Saint Peter's Fatmata Janneh (11.3 RPG), and Merrimack's Madison Roman (9.0 RPG).
•The Golden Griffins are heading into the 2025 Hercules Tires MAAC Championships on a three-game winning streak after taking down Iona, Rider, and Saint Peter's. Johnson and Copple led the team with a combined 29 points.
•In the last three-games, Canisius is averaging +8.0 better than its opponent.
•On January 30 against Niagara, the Golden Griffins set a season high with 23 made free-throws as a team. Good for third in the conference in a single game.
•Graduate guard Jaela Johnson leads Canisius in scoring averaging 11.6 points-per-game. Johnson's total sits 15th in the MAAC.
•Forward Mariam Sanogo leads the team with 20 blocks on the season.
•Prior to the last meeting between Manhattan and Canisius in Atlantic City, Canisius fell to the Jaspers in 10 straight match-ups spanning 2019 to 2024.
•This past October, the Golden Griffins were selected to finish last in the 2024 MAAC Preseason Coaches Poll in Atlantic City.
Last Time in Atlantic City (vs. Canisius):
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - The Manhattan College women's basketball team gave it all they had before falling in the MAAC Tournament quarterfinals this afternoon at Jim Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, 58-55. Manhattan finishes the 2023-24 season 18 -12 overall after going 11-9 in league play. Manhattan was led by a trio of double-digit scorers today,including Nitzan Amar (11 pts), Jade Blagrove (10 pts), and Ines Gimenez Monserrat (10 pts). Canisius was led by Sisi Eleko, who scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Brookly Thrash scored 14 and had eight rebounds for the Golden Griffins. After the first quarter, Canisius led 12-11. Eleko scored 10 in the quarter for Canisius, while Jayla James hit two three-pointers for the Jaspers. The teams remained close in the second quarter and went into the locker room at halftime tied 23-23. In the third quarter, Canisius came out hot, jumping to a 36-27 lead. The Jaspers began their comeback charge with baskets from Amar, Blagrove, and Gimenez Monserrat, closing the gap to 43-41 after three quarters. Canisius responded with an early fourth-quarter run, bringing its lead up to double digits, 53-43, with 7:04 to play. The Jaspers defense held Canisius to two points in the next six minutes of play. Six consecutive points from Blagrove and a three-pointer from Gimenez Monserrat reduced the Canisius lead to 55-52 with 2:10 to play. After consecutive failed trips by each team, Canisius would get a free throw from Eleko with 23 seconds to play. Manhattan missed a three-pointer with 12 seconds left, but Petra Juric grabbed the offensive board and kicked it out to Amar who drained a three-pointer to put the Jaspers within one with 8 seconds left. Eleko drained two more free throws, giving Manhattan the ball back for one final possession with 5 seconds left and a chance to tie it. They would get a look from Amar for three but could not convert, leading to a three-point loss, ending Manhattan's season in the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament.
Last Five Meetings:
Manhattan Leads 38-36 Since '90
2/27/25...................................MAN 71-35
3/14/24...................................CAN 58-55
2/22/24..................................MAN 54-51
1/20/24..................................MAN 58-55
1/21/23...................................MAN 64-48