St. Bonaventure Holds Off Women's Basketball

Women's Basketball 2/9/2008 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Siena Rallies Past Women's Basketball in OT

Box Score

Siena overcame a seven-point deficit in the final minute and held on in the extra session to defeat the Canisius College women's basketball team 77-74 in overtime at the Koessler Athletic Center on “Think Pink” night.

Canisius (10-13, 5-7 MAAC) had all five of its starters reach double figures, led by 17 points from sophomore Brittan? Russell. Senior Laura Buetow and sophomore Ellie Radke each had a double-double for the Griffs with Buetow totaling 15 points and a game-high 13 boards while Radke, making her second start of the season, had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the first double-double of her career.

Siena (8-14, 4-8) made its first seven shots and pushed its lead to 19-10 on a jumper by Melissa Manzer just over eight minutes into the game. Canisius then held the Saints scoreless during the next 7:19 and took a 20-19 lead on a layup by Buetow at the 4:42 mark.

Up two at the half, Siena scored two quick baskets to go up 30-24 on a jumper by Shondaya Burrell. Canisius retook the lead on a 3-pointer by Brianna Lucas at the 14:30 mark to make the score 36-35.

The Griffs were ahead by as many as nine after a jumper by Amanda Cavo with 6:31 made the score 53-44. Canisius was up 63-56 after a layup by Buetow with 1:03 before the Saints started their rally. Manzer made a 3-pointer with 49 seconds left and then Russell split two free throws to make it 64-59. Burrell drove the length of the court and scored on a layup. After a Canisius turnover, Laura Menty scored with 38 seconds left to make it 64-63.

Russell connected on two free throws to push the lead back to three points while Menty scored with 16 seconds remaining to make it a one-point game again. After Cavo split two free throws, Burrell missed a layup, but Manzer made a turnaround jumper with 4.2 seconds left to tie the game. The Griffs couldn't get a shot off and the game went into overtime.

A layup by Micayla Drysdale gave the Griffs the early lead but Siena scored eight of the next 10 points to go up 75-71 on a 3-pointer by Manzer with 2:29 left. Drysdale made it a one-point game with a 3-poitner of her own with 57 seconds remaining.

Cavo drew a charge on Menty with 32 seconds left, but the Griffs missed twice before having to foul Manzer, who made the score 77-74 with two free throws with 4.0 seconds remaining. Russell took a 3-pointer from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded but it was blocked by Menty.

“This is a tough loss, especially after the way our team battled back,” Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. “We dug ourselves a hole early, but after that, I thought we played well tonight.”

Menty led all scorers with 24 points while Manzer had 21. Burrell had 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five assists.
Canisius closes out its weekend homestand against Marist on Sunday. Game time at the Koessler Athletic Center is set for 2 p.m.

Game Notes: The game served as "Think Pink" night for the women's basketball program. Both team sported pink shooting shirts provided by the MAAC as well as pink shoelaces. Coaching staffs from both schools wore pink on the sidelines... The Griffs extended their NCAA Division I record for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer to 413 games on a make by Drysdale in the first half... Buetow had her second double-double of the season and third of her career... Radke also pulled down double-digit rebounds for the first time in her career... Two Griffs recorded a double-double in the same game for the first time since Buetow and Megan Lyte accomplished the feat Dec. 4, 2005, against Syracuse... The Griffs last had five starters score in double figures Feb. 17, 2006, against Saint Peter's... The 21 offensive rebounds were a season high for the Griffs and the most since they had 21 at Montana Dec. 28, 2006... Canisius committed a season-low nine turnovers, the fewest since it had seven against Loyola in the MAAC Tournament March 2, 2007... Russell played a career-high 45 minutes, the most by a Golden Griffin since Lonnie Brown played 48 in a double-overtime loss against Fairfield Jan. 9, 2004... Canisius played an overtime game for the first time since Nov. 14, 2006. The Griffs have dropped their last fourovertime games... Canisius played its first conference overtime game since Feb. 25, 2005... The game will reair locally on Time Warner 13 on Saturday, at 4:30 pm and 7 pm, and on Sunday, at 1 pm.

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Players Mentioned

#44 Megan Lyte: F; 6' 0"; Senior

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

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

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#44 Megan Lyte
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

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

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

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

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

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

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