Jaspers Wrap Up Homestand Against Niagara

Manhattan-Niagara Game Notes

GAMEDAY
Manhattan (12-11, 6-5 MAAC) concludes a three-game homestand tonight against Niagara (8-16, 5-7 MAAC) looking for its fourth consecutive win.  The Jaspers have been off since Saturday, when they upset previously-undefeated Marist 48-44.  Niagara dropped a heartbreaking 58-57 decision against Canisius on Saturday night.  Manhattan is currently tied for third in the MAAC, while Niagara is in a three-way tie for sixth.  After tonight, Manhattan plays four of its final six regular season games on the road.

THE MANHATTAN JASPERS
The Jaspers (12-11, 6-5 MAAC) have won three straight games to get back over .500 for the season.  Manhattan is coming off a 48-44 victory over Marist on Saturday afternoon.  Senior forward Lindsey Loutsenhizer was named MAAC Player of the Week for her 17-point, 12-rebound performance against the Red Foxes.  Loutsenhizer paces the Jaspers with 12.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.  She also distributes a team-leading 2.5 assists per contest.  Senior guard Schyanne Halfkenny tallies 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, and she paces the Jaspers with 11.6 points per contest in MAAC play.  Sophomore guard Monica Roeder contributes 10.3 points per outing while draining a team-best 1.8 three-pointers per game.  Senior forward Nadia Peters ranks second in the MAAC with 2.4 steals per contest while also averaging 1.0 blocks per game.  Peters also registers 4.9 rebounds per contest.

THE NIAGARA PURPLE EAGLES 
Niagara (8-16, 5-7 MAAC) has alternated wins and losses over its last six games, and the Purple Eagles are coming off a 58-57 loss to Canisius on Saturday night.  Sophomore guard Kayla Stroman, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, leads the Purple Eagles in scoring, averaging 10.4 points per game.  Stroman also paces the squad with 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per contest.  Sophomore center Lauren Gatto ranks second on the team in scoring (9.3 ppg) and pulls down a team-best 5.5 rebounds per game.  Freshman guard Meghan McGuinness contributes 5.9 points per outing off the bench, and she leads Niagara with 1.3 three-pointers per contest.  Senior guard Ali Morris adds 5.8 points per game while also ranking second on the team in assists (1.3 apg) and steals (1.4 spg).  Niagara plays its final road game of the season at Iona on Sunday before ending the campaign with four straight at the Gallagher Center.

SERIES HISTORY
This is the first meeting of the season between Manhattan and Niagara.  The Jaspers won both matchups in 2010-11, posting a 71-32 victory in Riverdale and a 59-53 triumph at the Gallagher Center.  Overall, Manhattan has won four straight and six out of seven against the Purple Eagles.  The Jaspers and Purple Eagles have met 45 times previously, with Manhattan holding a 24-21 edge in the all-time series.

LAST TIME OUT
The Jaspers ended Marist's 34-game conference winning streak with a 48-44 victory over the Red Foxes at Draddy Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.  Manhattan trailed 44-40 with 3:27 remaining before Schyanne Halfkenny sank a three-pointer to bring the Jaspers within one.  After a Marist miss, Monica Roeder's only points of the game, a three-pointer from the left corner, put the Jaspers in front, 46-44.  Marist held for one shot, but missed a layup with 13 seconds left and Lindsey Loutsenhizer grabbed the rebound.  She was immediately fouled, and she then drained two free throws to ice the victory.  Loutsenhizer notched her third double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Nadia Peters added 12 points, five boards, five assists and four steals.