Manhattan University Athletics

Riverdale, NY - Manhattan women's basketball will take on the Niagara Purple Eagles Thursday, January 24 at Draddy Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Game Notes:

Last Outing
Kania Pollock (Queens, NY / The Mary Louis Academy) put in 20 points against Rider on Sunday, January 20, setting a new career-high as the Jaspers fell to the Broncs 73-63 in Draddy. It was her second double-figure scoring game in a row, and her third in four games. Pollock went 7-12 from the floor and 5-12 from the foul line. She added five rebounds and two assists. 

Courtney Warley (West Chester, PA / Bishop Shanahan) added 16 points to the Jaspers' offensive effort on Sunday, her second-best scoring performance of the season. She shot 62.5 percent from the floor and was a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. She added two blocks to her stat line, as well as six rebounds. Earning her second collegiate start Sunday afternoon, Pamela Miceus (Haverstraw, NY / North Rockland) pulled down a career-high nine boards for Manhattan, leading all players. The Jaspers out-rebounded Rider 37-33 on the afternoon.

MAAC Rankings
The Jaspers rank second in the league in scoring defense, one of two teams to allow less than 60 points per game (59.6). Manhattan is second in blocked shots per game (3.6), as well as fourth in steals (9.4). 

Warley ranks third in the MAAC in rebounding (8.1 per game), as well as first in offensive rebounds (3.7). She also sits in the top 10 (ninth) in field goal percentage at .411. The Jaspers' starting center, Warley ranks third in the MAAC in steals per game (2.1).

Outstanding Rookies
All three of Manhattan's freshmen have earned MAAC Rookie of the Week honors this season. D'yona Davis (Bronx, NY / Truman), who on the award in November, holds the Jaspers' highest field goal percentage in MAAC games (.500). Earning the accolade in December, Kania Pollock (Queens, NY / The Mary Louis Academy) leads Manhattan in scoring for MAAC games, averaging 10.8 points per game. And Sydney Watkins (Wanaque, NJ / Saddle River Day), who leads the Jaspers in threes this year with 21, won the honor this month.

About the Purple Eagles
Niagara's Jai Moore ranks third in the MAAC in scoring, averaging 15.6 points per game. Emerald Ekpiteta is tied for first in the league in rebounding with 8.2 boards per game. The Purple Eagles (8-10, 4-2 MAAC) rank sixth in the league in scoring, averaging 59.4 points per game, while allowing 73.3 points per contest, ranking last in the MAAC. 

MAAC Rematch
Niagara is the first conference foe the Jaspers will face a second time this season. Manhattan first met the Purple Eagles on January 5 at the Gallagher Center, where the Purple Eagles used a strong fourth-quarter performance to overtake the Jaspers 61-51. Manhattan shot 50 percent as a team in the first half, including going 5-9 from three-point range. The Jaspers went up by as many as seven in the second quarter, and took a 30-27 lead into the locker room at halftime. Though Niagara overtook the Jaspers in the third, they were up just two at the end of the period (42-40), and again halfway through the final quarter (51-49). But a 5-0 run by the Purple Eagles over the next three minutes widened the gap to 56-49 with a minute to play.

Tuuli Menna (Helsinki, Finland / Richmond) recorded a career-high 13 rebounds at Niagara, besting all players. She pulled down eight on the defensive end. Pollock (Queens, NY / The Mary Louis Acacdemy) scored 13 for Manhattan.

All-Time Series
Niagara leads the all-time series 32-29. The Jaspers last defeated the Purple Eagles on February 8, 2018 in Draddy Gym, besting Niagara 82-64.