Game Notes
GAME #14: Rider Broncs (9-4, 3-1 MAAC) at Manhattan Jaspers (5-8, 1-3 MAAC)
Thursday, January 4, 2017 - 5:00 PM
Riverdale, NY - Draddy Gymnasium (2,520)
Video: ESPN3
Audio
Live Stats
TODAY'S GAME
The Jaspers (5-8, 1-3 MAAC) conclude their season-long four-game homestand with a matchup against Rider (9-4, 3-1 MAAC) that is being broadcast nationally on ESPN3. This is the first game of a Manhattan basketball doubleheader, as the Jasper men's team takes on Fairfield at 8 p.m. In their last outing on Monday afternoon, the Jaspers suffered a 62-57 loss to Canisius. The second-place Broncs have alternated wins and losses over their last five games. Rider is coming off an 85-65 victory over Iona on Monday night.
ABOUT THE JASPERS
Manhattan (5-8, 1-3 MAAC) dropped a 62-57 decision to Canisius on Monday afternoon. Offensively, the Jaspers are paced by junior guard Amani Tatum, who registers 11.0 points per game. She also leads the MAAC in both assists (4.8 apg) and steals (3.2 spg). Junior center Kayla Grimme tallies 10.3 points per contest to go along with a team-best 7.2 rebounds per outing, which place her fifth in the conference in that category. She's Manhattan's leading scorer in conference play with an average of 12.8 points a night. In addition, Grimme's 2.1 blocks per game are a conference-high. Senior guard Maeve Parahus contributes 7.1 points per contest and is shooting .407 from three-point range, while junior guard Nyasha Irizarry notches 6.0 points per contest. This is the finale of a four-game homestand for the Jaspers, who play four of their next six on the road. Manhattan visits Fairfield (4-8, 1-2 MAAC) at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
ABOUT THE BRONCS
This is the start of a three-game road trip for the Broncs (9-4, 3-1 MAAC), who are coming off an 85-65 win over Iona on Monday night. The highest-scoring team in the league, Rider has four players averaging in double-figures. Senior guard Robin Perkins ranks second in the MAAC with 16.5 points per game, while junior guard Kamila Hoskova registers 11.9 points per contest. Freshman guard Stella Johnson, who contributes 11.8 points per outing, is second in the conference in field goal percentage (.584), free throw percentage (.806) and steals (3.1 spg). Senior center Julia Duggan, who's third in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.543). She tallies 10.0 points a night and leads the team with 5.9 rebounds per game. Senior guard Taylor Wentzel, meanwhile, distributes 2.6 assists per contest. That quintent has started every game this season for the Broncs. Up next, Rider travels to Siena (3-10, 2-2 MAAC) for a Sunday afternoon matchup.
SERIES HISTORY
Manhattan and Rider have split the season series in each of the last four years. The road team won both contests in 2015-16, with the Jaspers posting a 74-70 victory in Lawrenceville on Jan. 25 and Rider notching a 56-49 triumph at Draddy Gymasium on Feb. 28. Manhattan's last home win over the Broncs was a 55-52 decision on Jan. 4, 2015. Overall, this is the 43rd all-time meeting between the teams, with the Jaspers leading the series 29-13.
LAST TIME OUT
Despite a combined 46 points from Nyasha Irizarry, Kayla Grimme and Amani Tatum, the Jaspers came up on the short end of a 62-57 decision against Canisius at Draddy Gymnasium on Monday afternoon. It was 13-13 after one quarter and tied at 32-32 late in the second before a Canisius three-pointer gave the Griffs a 35-32 lead at the break. Canisius then used an 8-0 run late in the third quarter to open up a 49-42 advantage. After the Griffs extended the margin to 11 points, 58-47, the Jaspers went on a 5-0 spurt to pull within six, 58-52, with 1:30 remaining. Canisius made its free throws down the stretch, though, to earn a 62-57 victory. Irizarry led the Jaspers with 18 points on six treys, while Grimme finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. Tatum added 12 points, three assists and four steals.