Manhattan University Athletics

Niagara University, NY - Manhattan women's basketball (11-14, 8-8 MAAC) looks to go 4-0 over the MAAC's Western New York teams as the Jaspers take on Niagara (9-16, 7-9 MAAC) this Saturday, February 22 in the Gallagher Center.

Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 pm on ESPN3. 

GAME NOTES

Last Outing
After pulling down a career-high and MAAC-best 19 rebounds last week against Rider, junior center Courtney Warley (West Chester, PA / Bishop Shanahan) decided to set another standard for herself Thursday at Canisius: a career-high 23 points. Fueled by Warley's offense, the Jaspers earned a 63-56 MAAC road win over the Golden Griffins, sweeping the season series.

Warley added 12 rebounds to her night's performance, earning her sixth double-double of the season and her second in as many games. Her 17 first half points, including all 11 of Manhattan's points in the second quarter, forced Canisius to over-defend her, allowing the Jaspers to take advantage of offensive production from Julie Høier (Aabyhoej, Denmark / Marselisborg Gymnasium) in the second half of the game. Høier tied her career scoring-high with 16 points on 8-13 shooting for the night. She scored 10-straight points in the third quarter alone, keeping the Jaspers afloat in a down-to-the-wire battle.

Warley's World
Warley leads the MAAC with 3.0 steals per game against conference opponents, while ranking third with 9.8 rebounds per game against MAAC teams. She is averaging 11.8 points per game in conference play (18th in the MAAC), shooting 52.2  percent from the field. With 2.5 steals per game overall this season, she is second in the league and ranks 32nd in all of Division I.

About the Purple Eagles
Currently ranked seventh in the MAAC standings, Niagara leads the league in both steals (9.6) and offensive rebounds (14.2) per game. However, the Purple Eagles rank 11th in the conference for field goal percentage defense (.452) and eighth in three-point field goal percentage defense (.340). 

Niagara's Jai Moore ranks fourth in the MAAC for scoring, averaging 16.4 points per game. Emerald Ekpiteta ranks eighth in the league for rebounding, with just over seven boards per game.

Previous Meeting
Manhattan outlasted Niagara for a 68-65 win in a MAAC battle at Draddy on January 4. Four Jaspers scored in double-figures for Manhattan, with Gabby Cajou (Stony Point, NY / North Rockland) leading the pack with 15. Cajou just missed a points-assists double-double, doling out a season-best nine assists on the day. 

Warley added 14 points to the Jasper offense, adding five steals and three blocks, as well. Høier contributed a double-double for Manhattan, with 10 points and 11 rebounds, including nine on the defensive glass. Lizahya Morgan (East Hartford, CT / Capital Prepatory Magnet) nabbed 10 points off the bench, including eight in a decisive third quarter where the Jaspers outscored the Purple Eagles 19-10.

All-Time Series
Niagara leads the all-time series 33-30 after sweeping the Jaspers in the 2018-19 season.