Frankfort, KY - Manhattan and Cleveland State will open the 2021 Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) on Friday, March 19 at 12:00 pm.
How To Watch
The entire tournament will be streamed through PrepSpin with each day costing $10, with streaming for the entire tournament costing $25.
QUICK HITS
* The Jaspers will be playing for the postseason for the seventh time in program history, and for the first time since 2012.
* The 2021 WBI guarantees each team at least three games, thanks to both a winners and losers bracket.
* Manhattan will be making its third WBI appearance, previously appearing in the 2011 and 2012 events.
* The Jaspers hold an all-time record of 4-6 in postseason games, including 4-2 in WBI play.
* Against the 2021 WBI field, Manhattan holds an all-time record of 2-5.
* The Jaspers and Vikings are playing for the first time in program history.
* The Green & White last played a team from the Horizon League on December 9, 2018, dropping a 60-44 decision to Wright State.
* Junior
Dee Dee Davis and senior
Courtney Warley were each recently tabbed to the All-MAAC Second Team.
* For Davis it's her first appearance on an All-MAAC team, while Warley becomes the sixth Jasper in program history to earn All-MAAC accolades on three occasions.
Back-To-Back
Manhattan has posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons, which both coincidently ended with trips to the WBI, while the program's .750 MAAC winning percentage is the best 2002-03.
Trusting The Process
Head Coach
Heather Vulin is 25-21 (.543) over the last two seasons, including 21-11 (656) during MAAC play, after going 35-59 (.372) and 22-34 (.393) in the league over her first three seasons.
Last Time Out
Playing for the first time in almost a month due to a Covid-19 pause, Manhattan dropped a 61-50 decision to Fairfield in MAAC Quarterfinal action. Warley scored 11 points with seven rebounds, while Davis added 11 points, six rebounds and three steals to pace the Jaspers.
Bassetti Named To WBCA 2021 Thirty Under 30
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Allie Bassetti has been named to WBCA Thirty Under 30 list presented by Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment honorees for the 2020-21 season. The WBCA Thirty Under 30 program was created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches age 30 and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement.
DYK?
Former Sacred Heart standout and current assistant coach
Callan Taylor scored 18 points, on 7-of-12 shooting, with eight rebounds in the 2011 WBI Opener, but it wasn't enough as her Pioneers dropped a 52-48 decision to ... Manhattan.
You Always Double Down
Warley is averaging a double-double with 11.3 ppg (14th MAAC) and 10.4 rpg (2nd MAAC), and ranks second with 10 double-digit rebounding performances, and fourth with six double-doubles. She is also among the league leaders in steals (2.2 spg-6th), free throw % (.744-11th), blocks (1.1 bpg-9th), offensive rebounds (3.4-2nd), defensive rebounds (7.1-2nd) and minutes (35.4 mpg-4th).
Warley's Career Totals ...
* 42 double-digit rebounding performances
* 41 double-digit scoring outings
* 20 double-doubles
Warley's 2020-21 Double-Doubles
1. at Rider (12/12/20) - 14 points, 13 rebounds
2. vs. Quinnipiac (12/18/21) - 17 points, 11 rebounds
3. vs. Saint Peter's (1/1/21) - 13 points, 12 rebounds
4. at Marist (1/9/21) - 10 points, 13 rebounds
5. vs. Saint Peter's (2/6/21) - 18 points, 12 rebounds
6. vs. Iona (2/14/21) - 14 points, 10 rebounds
Warley's Weekend MAAC Averages
1. at Rider - 16.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 3.5 spg, 1.5 bpg
- Season-high 19 points in the opener
2. Quinnipiac - 12.0 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.0 spg, 1.5 bpg
3. Saint Peter's - 12.5 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.0 spg, 1.0 bpg
4. at Marist - 7.5 ppg, 14.0 rpg, 2.0 bpg, 1.5 spg
- Season-high 15 rebounds in the finale
5. at Monmouth - 9.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.5 spg
6. Iona - 11.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.5 spg
MAAC Tournament vs. Fairfield - 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, two blocks
Getting It Done In The Classroom
Warley was honored as being one of 30 finalists for the Senior Class Award.
Dee Dee Domination
After missing last year due to injury, Davis bounced back with a vengeance this season en route to pacing the squad in scoring and ranking seventh in the MAAC at 12.8 ppg. She also notched double-figures in scoring a team-best 15 times, and hit for a Manhattan-best 19 points against Northeastern and in the Jaspers' series-opening victory over Iona. Davis also is among the MAAC leaders from long range (.315-12th), from the line (.703-13th) and with 1.5 spg (12th).
Metropolitan Honors Take One
Davis notched 18.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.5 apg and 1.5 spg over Manhattan's sweep of Iona en route to earning Metropolitan Player of the Week honors.
More Davis
* Davis is averaging 14.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 1.8 spg over her last eight games, highlighted by her aforementioned 19-point performances.
* Additionally, after halftime during that time she is averaging 8.9 ppg, highlighted by going for 13 points in 13 minutes in the finale at Monmouth.
* Davis handed out a career-best six assists in the last win over Saint Peter's.
* She has scored in double-figures in 21 of her last 24 games, and 25 career times.
Davis From Deep
Davis was 7-for-15 (.467) over a two-game sweep of Iona and drained a career-high five three pointers against Northeastern, before sinking three of her four in the fourth quarter of the finale at Monmouth. She also converted three overtime triples in the win over Quinnipiac, and has drained least three triples on seven occasions - highlighted by a career-high five vs. Northeastern - including in four of her last seven
Metropolitan Honors Take Two
Warley scored 18 points with 12 caroms in the victory over Saint Peter's en route to being named the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Player of the Week.
Miceus Dominates Against Iona
Graduate student
Pamela Miceus averaged 11.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 1.5 bpg in the Jaspers' sweep of Iona, highlighted by scoring a career-high 16 points with six rebound and three blocks in the opener.
Miceus Making Moves
Miceus, notched her first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Saint Peter's, while also adding four blocks, two assists and two steals.
Double Your Pleasure
Warley and Miceus' double-doubles against Saint Peter's mark the first time that two Jaspers recorded double-doubles since Kayla Grimme (14 points, 10 rebounds) and Mikki Guiton (12 points, 11 rebounds) did so at Canisius (2/2/17).
Good Riddance 2020!
Since the calendar turned to 2021, Miceus is averaging 9.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 2.0 blocks per game over the Jaspers' 11 games.
Pam In The Post
Miceus, who hit for double-figures six times this year after doing so just twice in her first three seasons, is averaging 8.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg (16th MAAC) and 1.8 bpg (6th MAAC), while converting on 45.9 percent (7th MAAC) from the floor.
You're The Best Around, And No One's Gonna Hold You Down
Manhattan is among the nation's best in scoring defense (55.3 ppg-17th), FG % defense (.373-52nd), blocks (4.2 bpg-53rd) and turnovers forced (17.2 pg-94th).
The Jaspers Are ...
* 13-0 the last three-plus years when scoring at least 70 points.
* 8-0 when leading at the half this season, and forcing at least 18 turnovers.
* 5-1 in games decided by five points or less this year.
50+70=Success
* The Jaspers held Iona and Monmouth to less than 50 points in each victory, while improving to 26-2 under Head Coach
Heather Vulin when doing so.
* Manhattan scored a season-high matching 75 points in the third victory over Saint Peter's, to improve to 14-1 when scoring at least 70 points under Vulin.
Pretty, Pretty, Pretty Good
Thanks to taking all three games from the Peahens, Vulin is a perfect 12-0 against Saint Peter's, while extending the Jaspers' winning streak over the Peahens to 16.
Double-Digit Success
For the second time this year, the Green & White had four double-figure scorers in the most-recent triumph over Saint Peter's.
Straight To The Point
Graduate student
Gabby Cajou accrued a season-high seven assists vs. Stony Brook and Northeastern, and has handed out at least five dimes on five occasions. Cajou, who scored a season-high 12 points in the finale vs. Quinnipiac, is averaging 4.4 ppg and 3.2 apg (9th MAAC) with a 1.8 assist/to ratio (5th MAAC).
Of Note
Cajou has now registered at least seven assists on eight occasions in her four-plus years at Manhattan, and at least five helpers 27 times. Additionally, over her last seven games she has posted a sparkling 2.5 assist/to ratio.
Filling It Up
Sophomore
Emily LaPointe has registered double-figures in scoring four times, grabbed at least five rebounds on nine occasions and dished out four assists in five games. On the year, she is averaging 7.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 3.4 apg (8th MAAC) while posting a 1.1 assist/to ratio (11th MAAC).
Against Quinnipiac ...
LaPointe's putback at the buzzer lifted the Jaspers to a 71-70 victory over Quinnipiac in the opener and highlighted a weekend in which she averaged 11.5 ppg, 8.5 apg and 5.5 apg. In the aforementioned opener, she finished with 15 points, a career-high nine assists and five rebounds over 44 minutes.
Overtime Notes
Manhattan's aforementioned overtime victory vs. Quinnipiac snapped an eight-game losing streak in overtime games that dated back to a 71-59 triumph against Monmouth on December 17, 2011.
More Than Just A Basketball Player
Earlier this year, LaPointe was named the MAAC representative to the newly formed NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group, which will serve as an amplifying voice for women's basketball on key initiatives, legislation and various issues.
CK Sparks Manhattan (Again)
Sophomore Christiana Katsamouri matched her previous career-high of 14 points, while also setting career-highs in rebounds (7), assists (3) and minutes (29) in the Jaspers' 75-70 non-conference victory over Saint Peter's
CK Sparks Manhattan
With Manhattan trailing by nine points early in the second quarter in the second meeting with Saint Peter's, Katsamouri provided immediate offense to the tune of eight-straight points. She followed that up with six more after halftime, en route to finishing with a career and team-high 14 points, on 6-of-8 shooting.
She's Heating Up
Junior
Sydney Watkins is averaging 6.4 ppg and 1.9 triples each time out, over her last eight games. During that time she is also converting on 33.3 percent (15-of-45) from deep. For the season, she is 15th in the MAAC from deep (.305).
Scouting Cleveland State
* The Vikings have won 9-of-10, before falling to Horizon Champion Wright State in the semifinals of the conference tournament.
* Mariah White is the leader of the team, averaging 19.8 ppg and 4.2 apg.
* Destiny Lee (10.7 ppg) and Nadia Davis (10.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg) round out the double-digit scorers for Cleveland State.
Notes From The Shore
* Davis led the Jaspers on offense in the sweep of Monmouth, averaging a team-best 13.5 ppg with 5.0 rpg, 2.0 spg and 1.5 apg.
* Watkins scored a season-high 17 points, fueled by five triples, in the opener.
* With her performance, she became the sixth different member of the Green & White to pace the team in scoring.
* Manhattan also forced a season-high 31 turnovers that led to 20 points.
* In the finale against, Davis scored 11 of the final 13 Jasper points, en route to finishing with a game-high 16.
* Manhattan registered double-figures in steals in each win.
Saint Peter's MAAC Series Recap
* In the series-opener against Saint Peter's, all 11 Jaspers scored with a season-high four registering double-figures.
* Manhattan's reserves scored a season-high 26 points in the finale.
* The Jaspers also erased an early 11-point deficit thanks to shooting 41.6 percent from the floor, while assisting on 20 of their 26 field goals.
Balling From The Bench
* Sophomore
Jenna Jordan scored seven points with four rebounds and three assists in the series-opening win over Iona.
* Watkins' aforementioned 17 points in the opener at Monmouth was the most by a Jasper reserve this year.
* Freshman Emma-Wilson Santos grabbed a career-high seven rebounds with three points in the first win vs. Saint Peter's.
* Senior
Sini Mäkelä made her first start of the season in the finale at Marist, scoring five points, after pulling down six rebounds in the opener.
* Senior
Lizahya Morgan scored nine points, fueled by three triples, in the finale vs. Quinnipiac and is shooting 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from deep.
* Freshman
Nia Bailey scored the first four points of her career in the opener at Marist, and sparked a game-ending 24-10 run in the second win at Rider with a pair of assists and a free throw.
In The All-Time Jasper Career Annals ...
* Warley is fifth with 855 rebounds, just five behind Athletic Director
Marianne Reilly (1978-82).
* She is also fifth in program history with 127 blocks, five behind
Eve Walters (1998-2003).
* Miceus, meanwhile, is right behind Warley in sixth with 101 rejections.
* Cajou is eighth with 350 assists, four behind
Amani Tatum (2015-18).
Notable From Rider
* Warley was dominant in Manhattan's sweep of Rider, averaging 16.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg and 3.5 spg, highlighted by going for 14 points and 13 rebounds in the finale.
* The Jaspers outscored Rider 60-36 in the paint for the weekend, while posting a 22-11 advantage in fastbreak points.
* Manhattan held the Broncs without a field goal in the second quarter of the finale
* Vulin became the sixth coach in program history to eclipse the 50-win plateau thanks to registering back-to-back victories.
Recruiting Pays Dividends
In each of the last two seasons, Vulin's recruiting classes paid immediate dividends as the Jaspers were paced in scoring each year by a freshman with Davis topping the charts in 2018-19 and LaPointe a year ago.
#playGREEN
The Jaspers' team motto "playGREEN" is a concept developed by Vulin. For the team, playGREEN is a commitment to the pursuit of excellence. Vulin expects her players to have that mindset every day, as they play for their teammates, for their program, and to represent Manhattan College at a championship level. The Jaspers use #playGREEN on all of the team's social media channels.
Preseasons Are For Polls
Manhattan was selected as the MAAC Preseason No. 1 for the 2020-21 season. The Jaspers top the MAAC's preseason coaches poll for the first time in the modern era of the league. In addition to the team accolades, Warley and LaPointe were named to the Preseason First Team, while Cajou was tabbed to the Third Team.
The Newcomers
Manhattan welcomes three freshmen and one transfer for the 2020-21 season.
* Jordan joins the squad from St. Francis Brooklyn, where she averaged 6.3 ppg, shooting 46.3 percent as a freshman.
* Bailey, who hails from New Rochelle, was named a 2019-20 Conference I All-Section selection, in addition to being named a Journal News/LoHud Girls Basketball Honorable Mention for Westchester and Putnam Counties.
*
Favour Mbeledeogu won the Pennsylvania District Three Class 2A championship as a member of the Linden Hall for Girls squad and also played for Raptors Academy (2016) and Deepbond Academy (2017).
* Rounding out the newcomers is Wilson-Saltos, who is the first player out of Preston High School to play Division I basketball in 16 years.
United For Justice
For 2020-21, the MAAC launched its United for Justice campaign and will work both internally at the conference office and with all 11 member institutions to advance and execute strategies to combat racial injustices within our society. The MAAC and its member institutions will work to address the long-standing history of systemic racism and inequality that minorities in this country have and still currently face, with a goal to educate those around us and to create substantial change in our communities. The MAAC basketball programs have united to focus their messaging platform for the upcoming season on Black Lives Matter. Specifically, the coaches will be showcasing the BLM messaging on warm ups and uniform patches.
Head Coach Heather Vulin
* Vulin was named the eighth head coach in Manhattan College program history on April 25, 2016. A 1999 graduate of Minnesota-Morris, she earned nearly two decades of coaching experience before arriving in Riverdale. She began her career as a graduate assistant at North Dakota State from 2000-02, then spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart from 2002-08. Vulin was on the staff at Villanova for seven seasons (2008-15) before spending the 2015-16 campaign as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Virginia Tech. She won her first game as a head coach against Holy Cross, defeating the Crusaders 60-56 on November 11, 2016, and her first MAAC game against Siena on December 30, 2016, when the Jaspers defeated the Saints 68-66.
* Vulin has continued to raise the standard for the women's basketball program since her arrival at Manhattan. She mentored Warley to the program's first MAAC First Team selection since 2011 and the program's second MAAC Defensive Player of the Year Award. In addition, she guided LaPointe to the unanimous 2019-20 MAAC Rookie of the Year award, and Cajou to the program's first MAAC Sixth Player of the Year award in 2018.
2019-20 Recap
Manhattan finished the 2019-20 regular season 15-14 (12-8 MAAC), tying for third place in the league rankings, the program's best conference finish since 2011. The Jaspers went 6-1 down the stretch, winning their last five games of the season en route to securing a #4 seed for the MAAC Tourney. Warley averaged 11.6 ppg and 8.7 rpg on her way to becoming just the eighth player in program history to earn MAAC First Team honors.
The Coaching Staff
Vulin's staff consists of Bassetti, Taylor,
Rena Wakama and
Kiambra Griffin.
* In her fifth season, Bassetti serves as an assistant coach and the team's recruiting coordinator. She joined Vulin at Manhattan after serving as the director of basketball operations at American from 2013-16. Also in her fifth season, Taylor was the 2011-12 NEC player of the year at Sacred Heart and played basketball professionally overseas. Wakama is in her fourth season with the Jaspers and her second as an assistant. A 2014 graduate of Western Carolina, she played professionally, making stops in the United Kingdom and the FIBA African Basketball League. Griffin joined the Jaspers last year as director of basketball operations. Prior to that, the 2018 Davidson grad was a GA at Columbia.
Trend Setter
Manhattan Athletic Director Marianne Reilly was the Jaspers' first-ever scholarship women's basketball player. She was also the first player in program history to reach the 1,000-point plateau, finishing with 1,305 points, and was the first female inducted into the Manhattan College Athletic HOF
What's A Jasper?
Manhattan is the only athletic program in Division I with the "Jaspers" nickname. The unique moniker honors one of Manhattan's most memorable figures, Brother Jasper of Mary, F.S.C. Brother Jasper served Manhattan College in the late 1800s and was the first coach of Manhattan's baseball team. He is also credited as the creator of the "seventh-inning stretch," which has become a time-honored tradition at ballparks across the country. During a game in the 1880s, Brother Jasper noticed students getting restless in the middle of the seventh inning of a close game, so he called timeout and told the students to stand up a stretch for a few minutes before resuming the game. Since Manhattan regularly played the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds in the 1880s and into the 1890s, the tradition spread into the major leagues.
Up Next
The Jaspers will play either Loyola Chicago or Stetson on Saturday, with opening tip tabbed for 12:00 pm or 2:30 pm.
