#11 Manhattan at Alumni Hall on Wednesday at 7:00 pm

[FU73]

#11 Manhattan (1-12)(2-20) comes to Alumni Hall tonight at 7:00 pm to play the #3 Stags (9-5)(10-13). The Stags are (5-3) at home and average 875 fans. Tickets are $8.00 and $5.00 with FREE Parking. Refreshments not so much.

In the last 5 games the Stags are (3-2) and Manhattan is (0-5).

Video ($5.95 PPV):
www.fairfieldstags.com/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?ATCLID=209884394&SPSID=810780&DB_LANG=C&SPID=137825&DB_OEM_ID=32500&db_oem_id=32500

Live Stats:
www.fairfieldstags.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?ATCLID=209884394&SPSID=810780&SPID=137825&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32500&LIST_SPORT__BASKETBALL

Audio:
www.wvof.org/listenlive?ATCLID=209884394&SPSID=810780&SPID=137825&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32500

Scoring Offense:
Stags - 57.1 ppg (#8)
Manhattan - 51.0 ppg (#10)

Scoring Defense:
Stags - 63.0 ppg (#5)
Manhattan - 66.4 ppg (#10)

Stag Offense:
Kristin Schatzlein - 12.3 ppg and 3.5 boards
Casey Smith - 12.2 ppg and 4.8 boards
Samantha Cooper - 7.8 ppg and 6.8 boards
Kelsey Carey - 7.0 ppg and 4.2 boards

SCOUTING THE JASPERS: The Jaspers are coming into the contest on a nine-game losing streak after their lone MAAC win against Rider on January 4. The Jaspers are in danger of setting the program record for fewest wins in a season (five in 1993-94). Offense has been the struggle for Manhattan in the season, as the Jaspers average 51 points per contest, the seventh fewest in the country. The Jaspers are shooting only 33 percent from the floor, the third-lowest number in the nation and 27 percent from behind the arc. Manhattan will have the height advantage with six players listed as six-feet or taller. Shayna Ericksen is by far their go-to player, leading the team in every offensive category. Ericksen averages 9.6 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the floor. Nyasha Irizarry and Taylor Williams both average over seven points per outing and have connected on 63 percent on the squad’s 3-pointers.

Manhattan Roster:
www.gojaspers.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=12500&SPID=5440&SPSID=52469

MAAC Standings (2/11/15):
Quinnipiac 13-0 1.000 21-3 .875
Marist 12-2 .857 16-7 .696
Iona 9-5 .643 12-11 .522
Fairfield 9-5 .643 10-13 .435
Siena 7-7 .500 14-9 .609

Niagara 6-8 .429 10-13 .435
Canisius 6-8 .429 8-15 .348
Monmouth 5-9 .357 9-14 .391
Rider 5-9 .357 8-16 .333
Saint Peter's 3-11 .214 3-20 .130
Manhattan 1-12 .077 2-20 .091

[FU73]

Stags up 17-16 at the half. Casey Smith with a jumper with 7 seconds left for the lead.

Stags shooting just 24% FG - 6/25

Kelsey Carey with 8 points and 6 boards
Casey Smith with 4 points
Kristin Schatzlein with 3 points
Samantha Cooper with 0 points and 2 boards

STAGS
Score 17
Field Goals 24%(6-25)
3-Point FGs 11.1%(1-9)
Free Throws 66.7%(4-6)
Rebounds 19(6-13)
Steals 0
Blocks 0
Assists 5
Turnovers 3

MANHATTAN
Score 16
Field Goals 30.8%(8-26)
3-Point FGs 0%(0-3)
Free Throws 0%(0-0)
Rebounds 20(5-15)
Steals 3
Blocks 0
Assists 7
Turnovers 4

[FU73]

Stags win 43-26 with 26 second half points (12 by Casey Smith). Whatever Joe Frager said at halftime worked.

Stags hold Manhattan to just 10 second half points. Manhattan's 26 points is the lowest score allowed all season.

Casey Smith with 16 points and 6 boards
Kelsey Carey with 10 points and 6 boards
Felicia DaCruz with 7 points, 5 boards and 3 assists

Tough night shooting:
Kristin Schatzlein with 3 points on 1/11 FG
Samantha Cooper with 3 points on 1/7 FG

STAGS
Score 43
Field Goals 34%(16-47)
3-Point FGs 17.6%(3-17)
Free Throws 66.7%(8-12)
Rebounds 32(8-24)
Steals 4
Blocks 1
Assists 13
Turnovers 8

MANHATTAN
Score 26
Field Goals 26.1%(12-46)
3-Point FGs 0%(0-9)
Free Throws 22.2%(2-9)
Rebounds 40(14-26)
Steals 4
Blocks 2
Assists 10
Turnovers 17

Stags (10-5)(11-13) move into third place.

Next: Canisius on Friday at 5:00 pm in WBA on ESPN3

[FU73]

Video recap and post game comments:
www.fairfieldstags.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?catid=90014&id=3716785

“You need to take pride in a stat like that,” Head Coach Joe Frager said. “The fact that we held them to 26 points…I thought our defense tonight was very strong. I am very happy with it.” With the victory, Coach Frager becomes the first MAAC coach in league history to earn a winning conference record in his first eight seasons.

“We take a lot of pride in our defense,” redshirt sophomore Casey Smith said. “I think coming out in the second half we wanted to be strong, holding another team to 26 points is a big thing, so we are really happy with our defense tonight...

“I think when I don’t have a strong first half, there’s a lot of people who step up but overall I think I need to come out strong and play my best ability all the time,” Smith said. “Just like every girl on the team would do.” “I wasn’t happy with Smitty’s performance in the first half, neither was Gail (Strumpf-Cheney),” Coach Frager said. “She really stepped it up in the second half and really played with a purpose, with a chip on her shoulder. That’s what I want from her all the time because when she’s in that mode, in that zone, she’s a special young player.”...

“It’s all part of the learning curve,” Coach Frager said. “It’s getting consistency in what they do, trying to take what they did defensively (individually and collectively as a team) and making sure we don’t take a step back. Making sure we bring that same kind of focus and really stick to the scouting report like the way we did tonight against a very tough Canisius team on Friday.”

Box Score:
www.fairfieldstags.com/fls/32500/Stats/WBB/2014-15/ffdw0211.htm?ATCLID=209886301&SPSID=810780&SPID=137825&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=32500

[terpstag]

Do you think Joe would like to coach the men for a while?