Jaspers Open MAAC Play In Western NY

Buffalo, NY - After a two-week break from competition, Manhattan women's basketball returns to action on January 3 against the Jaspers' first MAAC foe of the 2018-19 season, Canisius. Manhattan will remain upstate for a match-up at Niagara two days later. The Jaspers will take on Canisius at 11:00 a.m., and will tip-off against Niagara at 3:00 p.m. on January 5. Game Notes: Last Outing The Jaspers (2-9) played their last non-conference game at Holy Cross on December 19, falling to the Crusaders 61-53. Manhattan held Holy Cross to under 30 percent shooting in the first half of the game, but a third quarter turnaround cemented a W for the Crusaders. Sophomore Courtney Warley (West Chester, PA / Bishop Shanahan) scored a game-high 13 points, including her second-ever collegiate three. She added a team-high (tied) eight boards, as well as three blocks and two steals. Pamela Miceus (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland) earned career-highs in both points (eight) and rebounds (eight) against the Crusaders, tying for the team-high in boards. She went 3-5 from the floor and 2-2 from the free throw line, pulling down a team-high seven defensive rebounds. Conference Rankings Manhattan tops the MAAC in steals (108) and steals per game (9.8), tying with Monmouth in both categories. The teams sits at third in the league for scoring defense (61.6 points per game) and turnovers forced (19.0 per game). With 8.1 points per game, Warley ranks 25th in the MAAC for scoring. Her 7.6 rebounds per game put her at third in the league, and she ranks first in the conference for offensive rebounds per game (3.4). Warley is ninth in steals (1.6 per game) and fifth in blocked shots (1.0 per game). Christmas Surprise On December 26, Miceus, who joined the Jaspers as a walk-on last year, earned the belated Christmas gift of a full athletic scholarship. Miceus (as well as all of her teammates) was surprised while the team played "Deal or No Deal" during a post-practice bonding exercise. After averaging less than a minute of action per game last year, Miceus has become a spark plug off the bench for Manhattan, now averaging more than 10 minutes per game, with 2.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. She is shooting 48 percent from the floor, with just five turnovers in 10 games played. About Canisius Canisius (2-9) closed out conference play with a 67-46 victory over Vermont on December 21. Sophomore Danielle Sanderlin scored a game-high 17 points for the Golden Griffins. Canisius leads the MAAC in defensive rebounds with 26.2 per game. The Golden Griffs are also the league's best free throw shooting team at 74.3 percent this season. Sara Hinriksdottir leads Canisius with 12.6 points per game, in addition to 8.8 boards per contest. Sanderlin's 11.7 rebounds per game is also a team-high. Previous Meeting with the Golden Griffins The Jaspers last played Canisius in Buffalo on January 11. Manhattan came out on top 59-56. All-Time Record vs. Canisius Canisius leads the all-time series 34-26, with the Jaspers closing the gap by going 2-0 against the Golden Griffs last season. About Niagara Niagara (3-8) ranks second in the MAAC for three-point field goal defense, allowing just 30.9 percent shooting from behind the arc this season. The team also ties Manhattan for third place on the league's offensive rebounding list, averaging 13.6 per game. Jai Moore leads the team with 13.5 points per game, good for seventh in the MAAC. Emerald Ekpiteta ranks fourth in the league with 7.2 rebounds per game. Previous Meeting with the Purple Eagles Manhattan defeated Niagara 82-64 in the last meeting of the teams on February 8, 2018. Manhattan shot 55 percent for the game, and was also able to capitalize on Niagara's 22 turnovers, converting them for 27 points. The Jaspers outscored the Purple Eagles 18-2 on fast-break points and 36-24 in the paint. All-Time Record vs. Niagara Niagara leads the all-time series 31-29. The Purple Eagles' last win over Manhattan came on January 13, 2018, when Victoria Rampado converted two of three foul shots in the final seconds of the game to give Niagara a 65-64 win in Niagara Falls.