RIVERDALE, NY – Head Coach
Heather Vulin announced the Manhattan College women's basketball team's 2017-18 non-conference schedule on Tuesday. The Jaspers will play at least seven contests against opponents that qualified for the postseason in 2017, including two or three NCAA Tournament participants.
"I'm really excited about this season's non-conference schedule," Vulin said. "We're challenging ourselves with some of the best teams on the East Coast and postseason participants while also mixing in some local rivals. We're going to play in some of the nicest venues in the country, which will help us prepare for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament run."
Manhattan begins the season at Stony Brook on Nov. 11, then visits Sacred Heart on Nov. 15 before opening its home schedule against St. Francis Brooklyn on Nov. 18. The Jaspers will spend Thanksgiving in California, as they participate in the Cal Classic on Nov. 24-25. Manhattan faces host Cal on Nov. 24 before concluding the tournament against either Missouri or Coppin State.
After hosting Fordham in the annual "Battle of the Bronx" on Nov. 29, the Jaspers begin December with a visit to Penn State (Dec. 3). Manhattan's final non-conference home game is scheduled for Dec. 6 against Albany. The Jaspers head to New Hampshire on Dec. 9 before a matchup at LIU Brooklyn on either Dec. 16 or 17. If the contest is played on Dec. 17, it will be at the Barclays Center. Manhattan then wraps up its non-conference slate with a contest at Virginia on Dec. 21.
See below for an in-depth breakdown of each game:
Sat., Nov. 11 at Stony Brook
2016-17 Record: 12-18
Series History: Manhattan 3-1
Last Meeting: 11/26/16 (Stony Brook 55-50)
Fun Facts: Manhattan's last opener against an America East foe was at Hartford on Nov. 11, 2011…The Jaspers haven't visited the Seawolves since Dec. 15, 2008.
Wed., Nov. 15 at Sacred Heart
2016-17 Record: 17-15 (WNIT 1st Round)
Series History: Manhattan 3-2
Last Meeting: 12/17/12 (Sacred Heart 55-38)
Fun Facts: The Jaspers played the Pioneers five consecutive seasons from 2008-09 to 2012-13…Manhattan beat Sacred Heart 52-48 in the first round of the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational for its first-ever postseason win…Assistant Coach Callan Taylor is second on Sacred Heart's all-time scoring list, and Head Coach Heather Vulin was an assistant with the Pioneers from 2002-08.
Sat., Nov. 18 vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
2016-17 Record: 8-22
Series History: Manhattan 16-1
Last Meeting: 12/7/16 (Manhattan 55-52)
Fun Facts: Manhattan last opened its home schedule against St. Francis Brooklyn in 2009-10…The Jaspers have won 16 straight against the Terriers, their longest active winning streak against any opponent…Last season's 55-52 victory was clinched on Gabby Cajou's (Stony Point, NY) three-pointer with 18 seconds left.
Fri., Nov. 24 at California (Cal Classic)
2016-17 Record: 20-14 (NCAA 2nd Round)
Series History: First Meeting
Fun Fact: This will be Manhattan's first-ever contest against a team from the Pac-12 Conference…The Jaspers' last trip to the West Coast was for games at Portland and Portland State on Dec. 19-21, 2008.
*Sat., Nov. 25 vs. Missouri (Cal Classic, possible opponent)
2016-17 Record: 22-11 (NCAA 2nd Round)
Series History: First Meeting
Fun Fact: Manhattan's last game against an SEC team was also its most recent NCAA Tournament contest, a matchup against Mississippi State on March 22, 2003.
*Sat. Nov. 25 vs. Coppin State (Cal Classic, possible opponent)
2016-17 Record: 8-21
Series History: First Meeting
Fun Fact: The Jaspers haven't faced a team from the MEAC since Nov. 26, 2013, when they took on Delaware State.
Wed., Nov. 29 vs. Fordham
2016-17 Record: 22-12 (WNIT 2nd Round)
Series History: Tied 24-24
Last Meeting: 12/17/16 (Fordham 63-60)
Fun Facts: There has been at least one "Battle of the Bronx" every season since 1979-80…The all-time series hasn't been deadlocked since the 1986-87 season.
Sun., Dec. 3 at Penn State
2016-17 Record: 21-11 (WNIT Quarterfinals)
Series History: First Meeting
Fun Facts: Manhattan hasn't faced a Big Ten team since a matchup at Minnesota in the semifinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational on March 23, 2012…Senior center Kayla Grimme is from nearby Altoona, PA.
Wed., Dec. 6 vs. Albany
2016-17 Record: 21-12 (NCAA 1st Round)
Series History: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: 11/19/10 (Albany 49-48)
Fun Facts: Albany is the only conference champion on the Jaspers' non-conference schedule…The Great Danes won the America East title last season before losing at UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament…Manhattan's only other previous meeting with Albany was a 74-56 triumph on Nov. 30, 1999.
Sat., Dec. 9 at New Hampshire
2016-17 Record: 26-6 (WNIT 1st Round)
Series History: New Hampshire 6-3
Last Meeting: 12/28/16 (New Hampshire 59-42)
Fun Facts: This marks the fourth straight season in which the Jaspers will face the Wildcats…Manhattan's last win over New Hampshire was a 57-42 victory on Dec. 3, 2010.
Sat., Dec. 16 (may be moved to Sun., Dec. 17) at LIU Brooklyn
2016-17 Record: 6-23
Series History: LIU Brooklyn 4-1
Last Meeting: 12/15/96 (LIU Brooklyn 76-63)
Fun Facts: If the game is moved to Sun., Dec. 17, it will be played at the Barclays Center…Manhattan's first-ever varsity contest was against LIU Brooklyn…The Jaspers' only victory over the Blackbirds was an 89-48 triumph during the 1980-81 season.
Thu., Dec. 21 at Virginia
2016-17 Record: 20-13 (WNIT 2nd Round)
Series History: Virginia 2-0
Last Meeting: 11/15/09 (Virginia 86-68)
Fun Facts: The Jaspers haven't faced an ACC team since their previous trip to Virginia in 2009…Manhattan's only other meeting with the Cavaliers was on March 15, 1996 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
