Jaspers Open Five-Game Homestand Against Monmouth

Manhattan-Monmouth Game Notes

GAMEDAY
After starting the 2011-12 campaign by playing seven of its first eight on the road, Manhattan (2-6) begins a season-long five-game homestand tonight at Draddy Gymnasium against Monmouth (3-7).  The Jaspers have had eight days off since their last outing, a 57-42 loss at New Hampshire on Dec. 9.  Monmouth last played on Wednesday, when the Hawks dropped an 88-54 decision against Winthrop.  Manhattan is looking to snap a three-game losing streak, while Monmouth has lost four of its last five.

THE MANHATTAN JASPERS
Manhattan (2-6) opens a season-long five-game homestand looking to snap a three-game skid.  The Jaspers have had eight days off, their longest break of the season, since a 57-42 loss at New Hampshire on Dec. 9.  Senior forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer paces Manhattan in both scoring and rebounding.  She averages 13.0 points and 6.8 boards per contest.  Loutsenhizer also contributes a team-leading 2.3 steals per outing.  Sophomore guard/forward Monica Roeder contributes 11.5 points per game, while senior guard/forward Schyanne Halfkenny notches 8.1 points and 5.0 boards per outing.  Senior forward Nadia Peters shoots .475 from the field and is second on the squad in rebounding (6.3 rpg).  She also records 1.3 blocks per game, while junior guard Maggie Blair distributes a team-high 4.3 assists per contest.  Manhattan has played just one home game so far this season, a 59-49 loss to Fordham on Nov. 30.

THE MONMOUTH HAWKS
Monmouth (3-7) is coming off an 88-54 home loss to Wagner on Wednesday night.  This is Monmouth's only road contest in a seven-game span.  ?}['The Hawks, who had dropped three straight prior to a 73-64 victory over Saint Peter's on Dec. 10, have lost four of their last five games.  Junior forward Abby Martin tallies 11.8 points per game to lead the Hawks.  Martin also ranks second on the squad in rebounding, pulling down 5.5 boards per contest, and averages a team-high 1.3 blocks per game.  Junior guard Carly Thibault contributes 11.3 points per outing, while senior guard Alexis Canaday ranks third on the team in scoring (10.3 ppg).  Canaday also leads the Hawks with 6.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per contest.  Longtime Virginia and N.C. State assistant Jenny Palmateer is in her first season as head coach of the Hawks, who represented the Northeast Conference in the Postseason WNIT last season.

SERIES HISTORY
The Jaspers and Hawks haven't met since Dec. 29, 1993, when Manhattan notched an 82-62 victory in the consolation game of the Villanova Classic.  Manhattan and Monmouth last played at Draddy Gymnasium on Dec. 9, 1992, when the Jaspers won 80-63.  The Jaspers hold a 7-5 edge in the all-time series and have won six straight against the Hawks.

LAST TIME OUT
The Jaspers were unable to overcome a rough shooting night at New Hampshire on Dec. 9, dropping a 57-42 decision to the Wildcats at Lundholm Gymnasium.  New Hampshire scored the first nine points of the game and built a 16-point, 27-11, advantage late in the first half before Manhattan rallied to cut its deficit to 33-23 at intermission.  The Jaspers came almost all the way back, scoring eight points in less than two minutes to open the second half and make it a two-point game, 33-31.  However, New Hampshire responded with a 16-0 rally to extend its lead to a game-high 18 points, 49-31.  Manhattan was unable to pull any closer than nine the rest of the way, as the Wildcats held on for the 57-42 victory.  Schyanne Halfkenny led the Jaspers with 10 points, while Nadia Peters grabbed 10 rebounds.