Cavo Reaches 1,000 Points Women?s Basketball Opens With Win

Women's Basketball 11/25/2008 5:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Second-Half Spurt Propels Illinois-Chicago Past Women's Basketball

CHICAGO ? A jumper by Briana Hinkle with 2:12 remaining proved to be the difference as the Canisius College women's basketball team lost 63-59 to Illinois-Chicago at the UIC Pavilion on Tuesday night.

Senior Marie Warner led Canisius (1-2) with 15 points in the game. Amanda Cavo and Micayla Drysdale each had 11 points for the Golden Griffins, who shot 11-of-18 on 3-pointers to overcome a 42-28 rebounding advantage for the Illinois-Chicago (2-0).

“I felt we controlled the game until they started to put some pressure on us. Their rebounding advantage came through at key moments,” Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. “Foul trouble hurt us, but that's what you have to overcome on the road and find a way to win.”

The Golden Griffins broke open the game midway through the first half, making six 3-pointers over a four-minute stretch in the first half. That spurt, started on a 3-pointer junior Brianna Lucas, would turn an 8-7 Canisius lead into a 26-11 advantage. During the run, sophomore Drysdale hit treys on back-to-back possessions, followed by 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions from Warner. The 18-4 run would be capped on a 3-pointer by freshman Stephanie MacDonald, the first of her career.

Canisius would extend the lead to 42-26 after Drysdale scored consecutive baskets. The Flames made an 11-0 run to get within 42-37 on two free throws by Cassie Johnson. The Griffs answered the run with an 8-0 run of their own, starting with the first career field goal from freshman Katie Hart, a 3-pointer from the corner in front of the Canisius bench.

The Flames would come right back, going on a 21-6 run, eventually taking the lead on a 3-pointer from Jessie Miller to make the score 58-56 in favor of the Flames with 5:11 remaining.

Brittan? Russell nailed a 3-pointer in front of the Canisius bench to give the Griffs a 59-58 lead with 2:41 left in the game. Hinkle's jumper came from the top of the key to put the Flames ahead for good at 60-59 with 2:11 left. After Warner missed a jumper, Russell got a steal to give the ball back to Canisius. Russell would have her layup blocked, but the Griffs forced an over-and-back violation with 34 seconds remaining. Warner couldn't get her jumper to fall, but Hinkle missed the front end of a one-and-one and the Griffs got the ball back on the alternate possession.

Cavo's jumper with just over two seconds remaining didn't fall as she was surrounded by Illinois-Chicago defenders. The Flames made three throws to put the game away.

Hinkle led the Flames with 15 points while Jessie Miller had 13 points and nine rebounds for UIC.

Canisius concludes its four-game road stretch on Saturday, when the Golden Griffins play at Binghamton. Game time is set for 6 p.m.

Match Notes: Canisius extended its NCAA record of games with a 3-pointer to 425 games on a 3-pointer by Lucas in the first half... Canisius and Illinois-Chicago met for the first time... The 10-point halftime lead was the biggest for the Griffs since a 29-19 lead over Saint Peter's on Jan. 27, 2008... Canisius has dropped its last 10 road games, dating back to a victory at Maryland Eastern Shore Dec. 29, 2007... Warner has led Canisus in scoring in three of the team's four games this season...Russell has at least two steals in all four of the team's games... Cavo has 11 assists through four games... The 11 3-pointers by the Griffs were the most since they made 12 at Missouri State Dec. 21, 2007.

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Players Mentioned

#12 Amanda Cavo: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#23 Micayla Drysdale: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#13 Brianna Lucas: G; 5' 8"; Junior

#1 Brittan? Russell: G; 5' 5"; Junior

#24 Marie Warner: F; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#12 Amanda Cavo
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#23 Micayla Drysdale
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G

#13 Brianna Lucas
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G

#1 Brittan? Russell
: 5' 5"; Junior
: G

#24 Marie Warner
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F