Women's Basketball Dominates New Hampshire

Women's Basketball 1/4/2009 5:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Women's Basketball Overcomes Niagara?s Hot Shooting to Extend Win Streak to Seven

LEWISTON, N.Y ? Despite Niagara's 56-percent shooting performance, including a 73-percent effort from behind the arc, the Canisius College women's basketball team defeated Niagara 85-72 in the Gallagher Center on Sunday, in a Battle of the Bridge contest. The Golden Griffins extended their winning streak to seven games and are now 10-4 overall and 2-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Junior Ellie Radke led the Golden Griffins with 16 points, her third consecutive game in double figures. Senior Marie Warner had 15 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Five Golden Griffins reached double figures, including 13 points apiece from Brittan? Russell and Amanda Cavo while Micayla Drysdale scored 11.

“We continued to make a high number of 3-pointers, but our post production gave us points when we needed them in the second half,” Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. “Our defensive effort wasn't there for 40 minutes, but we got enough to stops to get a road win in the league.”

Both teams started out hot in the contest as Canisius made four of its first five 3-pointers en route to building a 14-5 lead after a make by Warner just under four minutes into the half. The Purple Eagles responded by making their first six 3-pointers of the contest and took a 22-18 lead on a 3-pointer from Jen McNamee at 11:12.

The pace slowed down for the rest of the half as Canisius regained the lead by scoring six consecutive points, getting a three-point play from Warner and a 3-pointer from Cavo to go up 26-25. The lead would change six times in the final eight minutes of the half, with Canisius scoring the final six points to go up three at the break.

Niagara scored the opening four points of the second half to take its final lead of the game as Canisius responded with an 11-1 run to go up 47-38 on a jumper from Radke.

With the score 49-45, Canisius used production in the paint to maintain its lead. In a span of five minutes, the Griffs received four layups from Radke and another layup from JJ Williams with the last basket from Radke making it 61-59 with 8:23 remaining.

Canisius made 11 free throws in the final three minutes to put the game away.

McNamee led all players with 28 points, as the junior went 9-for-10 from the floor, missing her only shot in the final minute. Liz Flooks added 24 points as the Purple Eagles (1-13, 0-3 MAAC) shot 11-for-15 on 3-pointers.

Canisius continues its three-game road stretch on Friday, when the Golden Griffins play at Manhattan. Game time at the Draddy Gymnasium is set for 5 p.m.

Game Notes: Canisius extended its NCAA record of consecutive games with a 3-pointer to 435 games on a 3-pointer by Cavo on the first possession of the game... Canisius ended a two-game losing streak at the Gallagher Center and has now won nine of the last 12 overall meetings between the teams... The win ended an eight-game conference road losing streak for the Griffs... Canisius won its fourth straight road game for the first time since Jan. 4-19, 2005... Canisius is on a seven-game winning streak for the first time since Jan. 18-Feb. 8, 2004... Radke had double figures for the third consecutive game and is averaging 12 points during her last five games... Canisius made double-digit 3-pointers for the sixth time this season, doubling the previous high of three for any season in program history... Canisius outscored Niagara 16-0 on second-chance points... Canisius picked up two points in the Battle of the Bridge all-sports competition between the schools and now holds a 12-4 lead during the 2008-09 athletic season.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#31 JJ Williams: C; 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#31 JJ Williams
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Senior
: C