Game #15: Merrimack Warriors @ Manhattan Jaspers
Saturday, January 11, 2025 | 2:00 PM
Draddy Gymnasium | Riverdale, NY
Watch: https://bit.ly/3WdyIZM
Live Statistics: https://bit.ly/4hKIVpU
International Feed: https://bit.ly/3We9URB
Tickets: https://bit.ly/3WeMaN4
RIVERDALE, NY - High octane offense has ignited a spark within the Manhattan Jaspers women's basketball program, as
Heather Vulin's squad has averaged 78 points-per-game against Rider and Mount St. Mary's (MD), respectively. Against the Mountaineers on Thursday, Manhattan rebounded in the second half, outscoring its opponent 43-11 in the final 20 minutes. It also welcomed back junior guard Hana Muhl from a two-game absence suffered at Marist before the New Year. Vulin's squad jumps two spots in the MAAC standings, sitting one game under .500, and 8th in the table. The Jaspers head back to Riverdale with a 4-2 record inside the friendly confines of Draddy Gymnasium and welcome the Merrimack Warriors for the first time in program history. The Warriors, a former Northeast Conference team, just four years in its Division I tenure, made the jump to the MAAC for its fifth year in D1.
Scouting the Opposition:
•The Merrimack Warriors are in its inaugural campaign in the MAAC, after spending three years in the Northeast Conference in Division I. Prior to 2019-20, the Warriors were members of Division II's, Northeast-10 Conference.
•Merrimack is led by Head Coach Kelly Marrone, who joined the Warriors one year after the start of its Division I tenure.
•Leading the charge for the Warriors on the offensive side is sophomore guard Thalia Shepard, who leads the team averaging 11.8 points-per-game.
•The newest team in the MAAC was picked to finish 12th in the 2024-25 Preseason Coaches Poll just ahead of Canisius.
•The Warriors lead the MAAC in free-throw percentage with a 77.6 clip.
•Crashing the boards has been a key strength for the Warriors, as it leads on the defensive glass averaging 25.7 defensive boards per-game.
•Ranked second in the rebounding category is Madison Roman, who averages 8.5 boards per-game, nearly two behind the leader in Fatmata Janneh from Saint Peter's.
•From distance, Lydia Melashenko leads Merrimack and is second in the MAAC with a 44.7 percent clip.
•Graduate guard Dejah Jenkins is no stranger to Draddy Gymnasium, as she returns to her old stomping grounds. Jenkins was a fifth year transfer from CCSU in her lone season under Heather Vulin in 2023-24.
