Click here to view the 2011-12 Manhattan Women's Basketball Yearbook

RIVERDALE, N.Y. - The Manhattan College women's basketball team is headed back to the postseason.  The Jaspers (16-15) have accepted a bid to play in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) for the second straight season and will host Robert Morris (18-13) in the first round at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Draddy Gymnasium.

This marks the first time in program history that the Jaspers will play in the postseason in back-to-back years.  Manhattan reached the semifinals of the WBI last season, defeating Sacred Heart and Wright State before falling to eventual champion UAB.

The Jaspers placed third in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) this season, posting a 10-8 conference record.  Manhattan is led by Second Team All-MAAC selection Lindsey Loutsenhizer (North Huntingdon, Pa.), who averages 11.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game.  Schyanne Halfkenny (Hyde Park, Mass.) was named to the All-MAAC Third Team after posting 10.9 points and 4.8 boards per contest.  Manhattan's all-time blocks leader, Nadia Peters (Bronx, N.Y.) records 1.1 blocks per game to go along with 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 steals per outing.

Robert Morris finished fourth in the Northeast Conference (NEC) this season and lost to eventual conference champion Sacred Heart in the semifinals of the NEC Tournament.  The Colonials are led by Artemis Spanou, who averages a double-double with 17.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.  Spanou was a First Team All-NEC selection.  Mary Durojaye averages 12.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per outing, while Briannica Tye also contributes 12.8 points per game to go along with 5.2 assists and 2.4 steals per contest.  Robert Morris Head Coach Sal Buscaglia was the Jaspers' mentor for five seasons, and he guided Manhattan to its most recent NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003.

While his will be the first-ever meeting between the Jaspers and Colonials, Robert Morris will be the fourth different NEC team to visit Draddy Gymnasium this season.  The Jaspers are 3-0 against the conference in 2011-12, having knocked off Monmouth, St. Francis (NY) and NEC champion Sacred Heart.

The Manhattan-Robert Morris winner will face the winner of the matchup between New Hampshire and Holy Cross in the quarterfinals on either March 17 or 18.  The semifinals are scheduled for March 21-22, with the championship game set for March 25.  All games will be played on the campus of one of the participating teams.

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