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A Look at the Canisius-Buffalo Rivalry

Women's Basketball Canisius College Athletics

A Look at the Canisius-Buffalo Rivalry

It's hard for a rival to get lost in the shuffle, especially when the schools are located seven miles apart, but that's how one could view the Canisius-Buffalo series.

When one thinks about Canisius rivals, Niagara immediately jumps to mind, and then St. Bonaventure is next (hence the Little Three). When Canisius and Buffalo meet, it has a little different feel, which could be a result of the relatively small number of meetings between the teams despite their proximity.

The Canisius and Buffalo men played for the first time in December 1912, and met seven times in the next 10 seasons. After a 31-year gap, the teams met four times before taking a hiatus until 1975. Since 1975, the teams have played in men's basketball 29 times, including each of the last 14 seasons.

The schools have played 32 times in women's basketball, starting in 1975-76. The teams had a three-year break in the series from 1995 through 1997 and then a two-year break in 2001 and 2002 before renewing the series in November 2003.

The series has been dominated by Canisius, with the men's team holding a 28-12 lead in the series and the Canisius women winning 26 of the 32 all-time meetings between the schools.

Some of the highlights and random facts:

? The men's basketball teams first met Dec. 4, 1912 - and Canisius won 52-5. The two schools did not play between 1921 and 1951
? The series was renewed Feb. 12, 1952, when Canisius beat Buffalo 83-77 in the Aud. That win started a stretch where the Griffs won 23 of the next 26 meetings through Feb. 6, 2001
? Canisius first hosted Buffalo in the Koessler Athletic Center Dec. 12, 1978.
? The Griffs were scheduled to host Buffalo for the 2000-01 home opener, but that game was snowed out and was played Feb. 6, 2001, when the Blue and Gold won 62-60 in the KAC
? Buffalo has won four straight in the series, the Bulls' longest win streak in the series since March 25, 1916-March 14, 1921
? Since 2000, eight of the last nine meetings between these two programs have been decided by six points or less

? Canisius and Buffalo first met in women's basketball during the 1975-76 season and played seven times in four seasons
? The 15-game winning streak by Canisius over Buffalo from 1978-79 to Dec. 28, 1991, is the longest winning streak by the Golden Griffin women's basketball program over a non-conference opponent
? Senior Amanda Cavo went 4-for-4 in her first collegiate game, which came against Buffalo Nov. 18, 2005, and has become one of the most productive 3-point shooters in program history
? Canisius and Buffalo have never played an overtime game in women's basketball

The Canisius College women's basketball team opens its season Friday, against Buffalo at 7 p.m. in the Koessler Athletic Center. The Canisius College men's basketball team starts its home schedule on Tuesday, against Buffalo with game time in the Koessler Athletic Center set for 7:30 pm.

To purchase tickets for Canisius College basketball, contact the Canisius College ticket office at 716-888-2885 or by visiting the online Canisius College Ticket Office.

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Cavo

#12 Amanda Cavo

G
5' 9"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Amanda Cavo

#12 Amanda Cavo

5' 9"
Senior
G