Women's Basketball Gets Set for Merrimack on Thursday

Game #22: Manhattan Jaspers @ Merrimack Warriors
Thursday, February 13, 2025 | 7:00 PM
Lawler Arena | North Andover, MA
Watch: https://bit.ly/419j5Wh
Live Statistics: https://bit.ly/4hS2EDi
International Feed: https://bit.ly/3EAWXeB

NORTH ANDOVER, MA - The Jaspers look to rebound following a tough setback against the Saint Peter's Peacocks on Saturday afternoon across the river, despite opening the game on a 17-5 run. Heather Vulin's squad has been dealt a tough hand with constant shuffling of rotations. Against the Merrimack Warriors in their inaugural meeting, Manhattan took care of business of the back of graduate forward Leyla Ozturk, who collected a double-double. Three other teammates for the Jaspers registered double-digit points in the win. Since January 11, the Jaspers have gone 2-4 in their last games. Leading the charge for the Jaspers on the offensive end is both senior guard Nitzan Amar and the aforementioned Ozturk, who average 11 and 10, respectively. As a team, the Jaspers are struggling with turnovers, averaging 21.2 in their last six, while its opponents have coughed up the ball 12 times on average.

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 Divison I tenure.

•Leading the charge for the Warriors on the offensive side is sophomore guard Thalia Shepard, who leads the team averaging 12.5 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 rank second in the MAAC averaging 36.6 rebounds-per-game, just one slot underneath the Manhattan Jaspers, who average a conference high 37.2.

•Forward Madison Roman sits second in the MAAC averaging 8.6 rebounds per-game, two full caroms behind the leader in Saint Peter's Fatmata Janneh.

•Redshirt junior guard Rose Caso logged a career high 24 points against former team Quinnipiac on January 16. The Warriors were unable to claim victory.

•Freshman guard Mia Fiore leads all Warriors with a pair of MAAC Rookie of the Week honors. 

•Graduate guard Dejah Jenkins is no stranger to the Jaspers women's basketball program, as she was a part of Heather Vulin's program in 2023-24. Jenkins was a fifth year transfer from the NEC's Central Connecticut Blue Devils a season ago.

Last Five Meetings:
 

Manhattan Leads 1-0 All-Time

1/11/25.....................................MAN 77-61