Wisconsin?s First-Half Run Sinks Women?s Basketball

Women's Basketball 2/25/2008 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Women's Basketball Battles for Overtime Senior Day Win

Box Score

Withstanding a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Sibohan Prior in regulation, the Canisius College women's basketball team made nine free throws in overtime to defeat Loyola 59-56 at the Koessler Athletic Center on Sunday afternoon
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Micayla Drysdale led Canisius (12-16, 7-10 MAAC) with a career-high 19 points. The freshman finished 5-of-8 from the field, which included 3-of-5 from behind the arc, and made all six of her free throws. Sophomore Brittan? Russell had 18 points, six assists, four rebounds and four steals while junior Amanda Cavo added 10 points and seven rebounds.

With the score 43-42 in favor of Canisius after Loyola's Tynisha Davis split two free throws with 1:42 remaining, sophomore Ellie Radke made a layup to put the Griffs up three with 1:24 remaining. After Russell split two free throws with 24 seconds remaining, Vika Sholokhova made a 3-pointer with 5.5 seconds remaining to make the score 46-45.

Drysdale made two free throws with 4.7 seconds remaining to push the Griffs' lead back to three points. Prior then took the ball at the Griffs' free throw line and came streaking up the sideline. Prior drilled an off-balance 3-pointer from just in front of the Loyola bench to force overtime.

In the extra session, the Griffs got a layup from Laura Buetow to take a 50-48 lead. After a 3-pointer by Sholokhova, the Griffs scored seven of the next nine points to make it 57-53 with 33 seconds remaining.

After a free throw by Devon Carey and a layup by Meredith Tolley made the score 57-56 with seven seconds remaining, Drysdale drained two free throws to make the score 59-56. Prior's desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer to force double overtime fell short.

“After Prior made a tough shot at the end of regulation, our team had to stay mentally tough and rebound from a major swing of emotions,” Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. “I'm proud of the way we responded and grinded out a tough victory.”

Sholokhova led Loyola (12-15, 7-10) with 16 points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench while Tolley had 10 points. The Griffs held freshman Candice Walker to zero points on 0-of-8 shooting in 40 minutes.

Canisius closes out its regular-season schedule against Niagara on Saturday. Game time at the Gallagher Center is set for 2 p.m.

Game Notes: The Griffs extended their NCAA Division I record for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer to 418 games on a make by Drysdale in the first half... Drysdale set a career high for the second time in the last four games... Russell played at least 40 minutes for 10th time this season, which is one off the program record... Drysdale has made her last 16 free throws... Buetow had two blocks, giving her 46 on the season, which matches her career high set last season... Drysdale's previous career high for minutes played was 40, which came against St. Bonaventure (Dec. 15) in her first career start... Canisius won its first overtime game since Feb. 25, 2005, ending a four-game overtime losing streak... Canisius won nine games at home for the first time since 1990-91... Russell has four steals in each of the last three games... Canisius improved to 21-12 in games decided by five points or less under Zeh... Canisius defeated Loyola for the third consecutive year and seventh time in the last eight years... For the seventh time in the last 11 games between Canisius and Loyola, the margin of victory was five points or fewer with this game being the first that went to overtime... Prior to the game, the Griffs honored the five members of their senior class ? Buetow, Nia Capuano, Steph Karst, Mere Mullins and Katie Thorner... Karst earned her first career start in the game.

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Players Mentioned

#53 Laura Buetow: C; 6' 3"; Redshirt

#33 Nia Capuano: G; 5' 10"; Senior

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

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

#32 Mere Mullins: F; 5' 11"; Senior

#35 Ellie Radke: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

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

#15 Katie Thorner: G; 5' 10"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#53 Laura Buetow
: 6' 3"; Redshirt
: C

#33 Nia Capuano
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G

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

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

#32 Mere Mullins
: 5' 11"; Senior
: F

#35 Ellie Radke
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

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

#15 Katie Thorner
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G