Manhattan-Fairfield Game Notes
GAME #13: Manhattan Jaspers (5-7, 2-1 MAAC) at Fairfield Stags (6-7, 1-3 MAAC)
Friday, January 6, 2016-11:00 a.m.
Fairfield, CT-Alumni Hall (2,479)
Video: Jasper Sports Network
Live Stats
JASPERS GAMEDAY
Manhattan (5-7, 2-1 MAAC), which has played just once in the last 18 days, begins a busy span of three games in five days with a Friday morning matchup at Fairfield (6-7, 1-3 MAAC). The Jaspers suffered their first MAAC loss of the season on Saturday, dropping a 67-56 decision at Iona. The Stags, meanwhile, saw their two-game winning streak snapped with a 56-55 defeat at Niagara on Monday night. This is the first of three “Kid's Day Out” games in which the Jaspers will participate this season, as well as the fifth road contest in a stretch where Manhattan plays six out of seven away from Draddy Gymnasium.
MANHATTAN BREAKDOWN
The Jaspers (5-7, 2-1 MAAC) are looking to snap a two-game losing streak. In its first contest since Dec. 20, Manhattan dropped a 67-56 decision at Iona on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore guard Amani Tatum is Manhattan's leading scorer. She averages 12.3 points per game. She also records a conference-best 3.1 steals per outing. Tatum and senior guard Blake Underhill are tied for the team lead in assists, handing out 2.8 per game apiece. Sophomore center Kayla Grimme tallies 7.8 points per contest to go along with 8.3 rebounds and a MAAC-high 2.9 blocks a night. Sophomore guard Nyasha Irizarry contributes 7.3 points per outing and is shooting .313 from three-point range, while sophomore guard Taylor Williams notches 7.1 points per contest. This is the first of three contests in a five-day stretch for the Jaspers, who conclude their four-game road trip at Siena on Sunday afternoon before starting a four-game homestand against Marist on Tuesday.
FAIRFIELD BREAKDOWN
Fairfield (6-7, 1-3 MAAC) played back-to-back one-point games during its Buffalo trip last weekend. After beating Canisius 51-50 on Saturday, the Stags suffered a 56-55 loss at Niagara on Monday night. Junior forward Kelsey Carey paces the Stags with 13.2 points per game, and her .541 field goal percentage is second-best in the MAAC. Senior guard Kristin Schatzlein contributes 10.1 points per contest to go along with 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals a night. Schatzlein leads Fairfield with 2.1 three-pointers per outing. Junior forward Casey Smith tallies 9.9 points per game, and sophomore forward Samantha Cooper pulls down a team-high 7.9 rebounds per contest to go along with 8.6 points per outing. Senior guard Lizzy Ball, meanwhile, is the MAAC leader in assists (5.2 per game) and assist/turnover ratio (2.4). This is the only home contest in a six-game span for Fairfield, which begins a three-game road trip at Saint Peter's on Sunday.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Fairfield is the most common opponent in program history. The Jaspers have faced the Stags 80 times dating back to the 1978-79 season. Fairfield leads the all-time series 44-36 and has won eight straight against Manhattan. In 2014-15, the Stags swept the season series for the fourth consecutive year, posting a 43-26 triumph at Alumni Hall on Feb. 11 and a 72-54 victory at Draddy Gymnasium on Feb. 28. The Jaspers' last win over Fairfield was a 53-44 decision on Feb. 25, 2011.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
In their first game after a 12-day break, the Jaspers suffered a 67-56 defeat at Iona on Saturday afternoon. It was 19-18 Iona after one quarter, then, after Manhattan took the lead on a Crystal Ross layup six seconds into the second period, the Gaels went on a 14-0 run to go up 33-20. Iona led 38-26 at halftime and extended that advantage to 50-31 with 2:59 left in the third quarter before the Jaspers went on an 8-0 spurt to get within 11 at 50-39. However, Iona would enter the final period with a 53-41 cushion, and the Gaels won by a 67-56 count, handing Manhattan its first MAAC loss of the season. Shayna Ericksen, Nyasha Irizarry and Amani Tatum paced the Jaspers with nine points apiece. Tatum also had five steals, while Kayla Grimme tallied six points, six rebounds and two blocks.
