Women's Basketball 1/16/2005 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Lamparski's Late Free Throws Slam the Door on Fairfield

Canisius College sophomore Jessie Lamparski (right) went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the game's final 18 seconds to help the Golden Griffins hold off visiting Fairfield University 71-68 in the Koessler Athletic Center Sunday afternoon. The win was the Griffs' fifth consecutive overall and fourth-straight in league play to improve the Blue and Gold to 9-6 and 5-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Fairfield falls to 4-11 overall and 2-4 in conference action.

Four of Canisius' five starters posted double figures in the win, led by Jessica Steeves and Becky Zak, who scored 13 points apiece. Fairfield also had four players post double digits in scoring, led by senior forward Cathy Dash and her game-high 17 points.

Canisius led the contest 67-63 with 2:15 left to play after Fairfield's Sabra Wrice scored a basket off a pass from Dash, who also had 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals in the losing effort for the Stags. With 23 seconds left on the clock, Fairfield freshman Meka Werts missed a lay-up, but teammate Ivana Podrug pulled down the rebound and was fouled by Steeves, sending her to the charity stripe for two free throws. Podrug sunk both of her chances from the line to cut the Griffs' cushion to 67-65 with 20 seconds to play. Fairfield fouled Lamparski after the ball was in bounded, and the Hamilton, Ont., native drained both of her free throws to put the Blue and Gold back up four at 69-65.

On Fairfield's next possession, senior guard Janelle McManus hit the Stags' only three-point basket of the day from the top of the key with nine seconds left. Lamparski was fouled again, and the 72-percent free-throw shooter scored twice more to secure the win for the Griffs, the program's first home win against Fairfield since Dec. 5, 1999.

Canisius led 34-25 at the halftime break. In the second half, the Griffs took a 44-29 lead with 16:07 left in regulation time, but the Stags used an 11-2 run over the next 2:31 to cut the margin to 46-40. During that spurt, Dash scored six of the Stags' 11 points. Canisius pushed its lead back to nine after Zak drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Blue and Gold a 49-40 hold with 13:14 left in the game.

Fairfield trailed 60-50 after Canisius junior Cheri Wittlieb drained a three-point field goal from 30-feet out with 9:09 left in regulation time. The Stags mounted another comeback attempt, using a 9-0 run over the next 2:29 to make the score 60-59 after Werts scored a traditional three-point play. The Griffs would lead by as many as six points in the game's next two minutes, taking a 67-61 advantage after Lamparski hit a jumper from just outside the lane with 3:37 left to play. Lamparski finished the day with 11 points in the win.

Zak and Wittlieb were each credited with a double-double in the victory, the first time Canisius has had two players register double-doubles in the same game this season. Zak dished out a season-high 11 assists to go with her 13 points, while Wittlieb pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds for her first career double-double. Podrug had 15 points and eight boards for Fairfield in the loss, the Stags' third-straight defeat. McManus had 11 points and Wrice chipped in 10 points. Fairfield shot 34.8 percent from the field and out rebounded the Griffs by a 52-40 count.

The Golden Griffins will return to action Wednesday, Jan. 19, at local rival Niagara. Tipoff between the top two MAAC teams is set for 7 p.m., in the Gallagher Center. Niagara improved to 11-4 overall and 6-0 in league play with a 78-65 win over Iona Sunday afternoon.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#23 Jessie Lamparski: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#13 Jessica Steeves: C; 6' 3"; Junior

#24 Cheri Wittlieb: G; 5' 10"; Junior

#20 Becky Zak: G; 5' 6"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#23 Jessie Lamparski
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G

#13 Jessica Steeves
: 6' 3"; Junior
: C

#24 Cheri Wittlieb
: 5' 10"; Junior
: G

#20 Becky Zak
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G