Game 2: Gophers host Manhattan (11-7-25)

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Ignatius L Hoops

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THE HOME STRETCH

This is the second matchup between Manhattan (the school that claims to have pioneered baseball’s 7th inning stretch in 1882) and Minnesota (the school that invented cheerleading in 1898). The first meeting was in the third round of the lightly celebrated 2012 WBI post season tourney. The Gophers won 67-54 led by Katie Lobergs 15 points and 5 rebounds. Rachel Banham tossed in 14 as Minnesota moved on to the title game versus Northern Iowa.

Manhattan University has a long history. Founded by the De La Salle Christian brotherhood in 1853, It became a college in 1861 and relocated from lower Manhattan to a new Riverdale campus in the Bronx in 1922. Women were first admitted in 1973.

Arriving on campus in 1863 was Brother Jasper as, among his other tasks, prefect of discipline. Brother Jasper also introduced baseball to the school. Subsequently the athletic teams took the nickname Jaspers and he was credited with the 7th inning stretch when he noticed a restlessness among the student fans. This predates the pitch clock.

Manhattan’s women’s head coach is Minnesota Morris alum Heather Vulin. She is entering her 10th season and has found a niche in Riverdale as quoted in the Riverdale Press:

“It’s not an easy place to win at or retain talent or coaches at but I’ve been able to find a formula where I feel the players that have played here have really loved it.”

This season the Jaspers were picked 7th in the 13 team, Fairfield dominated MAAC. They’ve welcomed 10 newcomers to a squad that went 16-19 (9-11 MAAC) and lost to Fairfield three times (although the MAAC tournament loss was competitive).

Manhattan opened the season on Monday losing at home to Rhode Island 56-38. By quarter the Jaspers scored 6, 6, 17 and 9. Notable performers were 5’8” senior guard Brianna Davis with 18 points (7-8 from the line) and 5’11” forward Agar Farres Garcia with15 rebounds.

It’s going to take a combination of Brother Jasper’s restorative invention and SKI-U-MAH cheering to rouse this contest to even the enthusiasm level of the 2012 WBI.
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Go Gophers! I enjoy the insight you share about each opponent. I hope the PA announcer reads this post and institutes a "7th Inning Stretch" during the game on Friday. I suggest during the media timeout of the fourth quarter.

Happy to see you are continuing your creative intro for each opponent!!!
 

I see that Manhattan isn't leaving their defensive post on an island when the Gophers make the post entry pass. Their guards are digging down. Hart seems to still be too much for the smaller team. Nice to see more defensive ball-hawking from Battle, Tori and Glenn So far, nice game both ways.
 

Still not shooting the ball that well but I like the defense.
I enjoyed seeing them go small with Woodson playing the 5.
 

A 20 point first half defensively! One of the players I'm looking at for progress is Holloway. Final couple of minutes of first half I thought she did an excellent job with a hard 2-dribble drive to the baseline, recognized the help defense cutting her off early and stayed in control in delivering a great pass to the opposite wing for a wide open 3-pointer (that we missed). Defensively, I thought she did a nice job of providing a strong hedge-out on the high screen, then hustle back to the lane with her hands up to make sure the diving post couldn't get an easy pass. I'm hoping little things like that are more consistent and instinctive to her this season, because with her athleticism, she can be a nice weapon off the bench.
 


Just looked at the stats. 44% floor. 33% from 3. (one more make and it's 44%, which is elite) The assist to basket ratio is really good. Considering how Manhattan is digging for the ball once it gets inside 12 feet, 5 turnovers at the half is a good number. And the defense has forced 14 turnovers and not allowing any open 3's.
 

Haven't looked at schedule but when are we expecting a reasonable opponent?
 





Yeah that looked terrible on the big+ replay. That would be heartbreaking.
 












blkroll said:
Up by 40. Pull all the starters please
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Ironically, Woodson would have been one of the players getting most of the floor time in the last 15 minutes of this game to help her work off the rust from missing last season before the tougher part of the schedule starts. Just awful if she ripped up that same knee again. I had hard time telling which leg is was, because she came down on both of them pretty awkwardly.
 

Now the Heyer departure stings even more.
Can we expect anything from the other Breshers when she returns from her calf injury?
 

My first view of the Lady Gophers against an inferior opponent. But it appears that there is good depth. Great intensity on D. I was impressed with reserves Glen, Klick and Christian. Lots of knee braces which is a concern.
 

Next game will be a good test. Will give everyone a dose of reality. If the team performs well, it is a good sign for the year.
 



1762573832316.png
tonight's +/-

Glenn - 36
Mara/ GG - 34
Amaya - 31
Holloway - 32
Tori - 31
Christian - 25
Klick- 18
Bersher- 18
Senden - 18
Hart - 16
Tonga- 13
Woodson - 8
 

Gophers112233 said:
View attachment 39998
tonight's +/-

Glenn - 36
Mara/ GG - 34
Amaya - 31
Holloway - 32
Tori - 31
Christian - 25
Klick- 18
Bersher- 18
Senden - 18
Hart - 16
Tonga- 13
Woodson - 8
Click to expand...
We have some players, can’t wait to see them in action against better competition. It is too bad we might have some players no longer playing for us ( Heyer and Woodson). Would have loved to see them be part of the team. Hopefully Woodson can still have an impact on this year’s team.
 

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