2010-11 Manhattan Women's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan College women's basketball team unveiled its 2010-11 non-conference schedule today, and the 11-game slate features six contests at Draddy Gymnasium. The Lady Jaspers open their 33rd season of varsity play at St. Francis (NY) on Nov. 12, then play their home opener against Albany a week later. The schedule also features matchups with local rivals Columbia, Fordham and Army, as well as a visit to NCAA Tournament participant St. John's.
"We are very excited about our non-conference schedule this year," Head Coach John Olenowski said. "We get to play all of our local rivals, including nationally-ranked St. John's, and this schedule should prepare us well for the always competitive MAAC schedule."
Manhattan and St. Francis (NY) will meet in the season opener for the third straight season. Last year at Draddy Gymnasium, the Lady Jaspers notched a 71-34 victory over the Terriers in Olenowski's debut as the team's head coach. Overall, Manhattan leads the all-time series 12-1 and has won 12 straight against St. Francis (NY).
Manhattan goes from Brooklyn to Queens for its next game, a matchup at St. John's on Nov. 16. The Red Storm went 25-7 last season and lost in overtime to Florida State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. St. John's has won all 11 previous meetings.
The Lady Jaspers' home opener is scheduled for Nov. 19, when the University at Albany visits Draddy Gymnasium. It will be just the second all-time meeting between the programs, and the first since a 74-56 Manhattan win on Nov. 30, 1999. That contest is the opener of a four-game homestand, as local rival Columbia makes the short trip to Riverdale on Nov. 23. Manhattan holds a 10-4 lead in an all-time series that was renewed last season, and this season's matchup will be the Lady Jaspers' first home game against the Lions since Nov. 21, 2000.
The only first-time opponent on the schedule, NJIT, visits Draddy Gymnasium on Dec. 1 before the Lady Jaspers conclude their homestand two days later against New Hampshire. The squads have split four all-time meetings, with the Wildcats winning the last, 47-43, on Nov. 22, 2002.
After paying a visit to Maryland Eastern Shore on Dec. 6 (which will be the squad's only non-conference tilt outside the State of New York), the Lady Jaspers return home for a Dec. 9 matchup with Lafayette. The Lady Jaspers and Leopards, who are now led by longtime Fairfield head coach Dianne Nolan, haven't met since Dec. 7, 1996, when Manhattan notched a 63-55 victory. Overall, Manhattan leads the all-time series 4-3.
The Lady Jaspers have nine days off for finals before heading across town for the annual "Battle of the Bronx" on Dec. 18. Manhattan beat Fordham 63-47 at Draddy Gymnasium last season and leads the all-time series 23-18. However, Fordham has won the last two matchups at Rose Hill Gym, including a 62-49 decision on Nov. 19, 2008.
Manhattan wraps up non-conference road play with a matchup at Cornell on Dec. 21, then former Marist men's coach Dave Magarity brings his Army squad to Draddy Gymnasium for a Dec. 30 matchup that concludes the 2010 calendar year. The Lady Jaspers beat the Black Knights 65-52 last season in West Point and hold a 7-4 edge in the all-time series with Army.
Manhattan will also play three exhibition contests during a preseason trip to Canada. The Lady Jaspers begin the trip with a visit to Montreal, where they will take on the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) on August 23. Manhattan also faces the University of Ottawa (August 26) and Carleton University (August 27) during its week North of the Border.
"We're all extremely excited about great opportunity," Olenowski said. "It's a very positive thing that the team will get a chance to work and practice together ahead of time. The trip will be a very worthwhile experience for both the veterans and the newcomers."
The remainder of the regular season slate will be released once the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) finalizes the conference schedule in early September. The MAAC Tournament will be held in Bridgeport, Conn., from March 3-7, with Monday afternoon's championship game airing live on ESPNU.
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