GAME NOTES
Last Outing
Sophomore guard Sydney Watkins (Wanaque, NJ / Saddle River Day) earned a career-high 20 points Sunday, December 1, helping Manhattan to a 70-58 victory over Dartmouth at Draddy Gymnasium. Watkins went 7-12 from the floor and 6-11 from three, besting her previous career-high of 14, which she earned at Saint Peter's last season.
Three other Jaspers scored in double-figures Sunday afternoon, including Courtney Warley (West Chester, PA / Bishop Shanahan), who had 16, Lizahya Morgan (East Hartford, CT / Capital Magnet Preparatory) with 12 and Gabby Cajou (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland), who contributed 11. It was the first time this season that four players scored in double-digits, as Manhattan earned its highest team shooting percentage (47.9 percent) and highest point total (70) in a single-game so far this year.
Team Rankings
The Jaspers currently rank second in the MAAC in scoring defense, behind Marist by 0.1 (62.8). Manhattan also leads the league in three-point field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to .302 shooting behind the arc. The Jaspers average 3.2 blocks per game (third in the MAAC) and 8.3 steals (second in the MAAC).
Top Performers
Warley ranks in the MAAC's top 10 for rebounding (seventh, 6.8 per game), steals (eighth, 1.8 per game), and field goal percentage (ninth, .442). She is 18th in league for scoring (10.3 points per game), as well.
Junior guard Lynette Taitt (Bronx, NY / Bishop Shanahan) ranks second in the MAAC in steals per game (2.8), while also ranking 40th in the nation. She's tied at 18th in the league for rebounding this year, pulling down 5.0 per game.
Senior forward Pamela Miceus (Haverstraw, NY / North Rockland) currently leads the MAAC in blocks, totaling nine so far this season (1.5 per game). Against Dartmouth on December 1, Miceus tied her career-high of three blocks, her best blocking performance of the year so far.
About the Rams
Fordham entered the 2019-20 season as the reigning A10 champion, while returner Bre Cavanaugh was named first team all-conference. With 14.6 points per game, Cavanaugh ranks fifth in the A10 for scoring last year. The Rams have secured wins over Northeastern, Charlotte and Lehigh so far this season. Including Cavanaugh, four players are averaging double-figures, while Kendell Heremaia leads the team in rebounding with 8.0 boards per game (third in the A10).
Previous Meeting
Taitt put in a then-career-high 15 points for Manhattan as the Jaspers nearly toppled Fordham in the rivals' 2018 Battle of the Bronx, losing 65-61 at Rose Hill Gymnasium. With 3:38 to play, Sini Mäkelä (Helsinki, Finland / Mäkelänrinne Sports High) buried a jumper to give the Jaspers a 56-55 advantage. Manhattan would hold the lead until the 1:29 mark, when Fordham's Cavanuagh hit a three to put the Rams up 61-60. Manhattan would be unable to take the lead back before time expired.
All-Time Series
Manhattan is 24-26 all-time against Fordham, while Rams' Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley is 8-0 against the Jaspers.
Doc Johnson Award
For each Battle of the Bronx game, an MVP is chosen among the winning team's players. When games are played at Manhattan, the MVP earns the Doc Johnson trophy, named after legendary Jasper athletic trainer John "Doc" Johnson, who was also a trainer for the New York Giants football organization.