For the second consecutive game, senior Brittané Russell scored the final eight points to lead the Canisius College women's basketball team to a 49-46 win over Binghamton at the Koessler Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Griffins improve to 3-2 on the season and have now won three straight games.
Russell led all players with 20 points in the game – the third 20-point game of her career – to go along with five rebounds, five assists, three steals and 8-for-8 shooting from the free-throw line. Junior Micayla Drysdale had 10 points while senior Ellie Radke had eight points and pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.
“It became apparent this was going to be a grind-it-out game decided in the 40s or 50s, and that's what we've had to do so far this season,” Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. “Britt carried us for the second consecutive game, and she allows us to stay in games when we don't play our best basketball.”
Binghamton jumped out to a 14-8 lead eight minutes in the game before Canisius took control of the first half with a 20-4 run to head into the locker room with a 10-point lead. Russell and Drysdale each had two 3-pointers during the run as the Canisius defense held Binghamton to one field goal during the 12-minute stretch.
Binghamton (0-4) chipped away at the Canisius lead during the second half, eventually tying the game at 37-37 on a 3-pointer from Erica Cater. The Griffs scored two quick baskets – a layup from Drysdale and a put-back from Radke that was setup by a Russell steal – to regain the lead at 41-37.
Binghamton took its first lead since the first half by scoring six straight points – capped by backt-to-back jumpers from Jackie Ward that made the score 44-43 with 3:14 left. Russell then made six free throws during the final 2:11 of the contest to give Canisius a three-point cushion. Binghamton's 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed to the right.
Ward led the Bearcats with 13 points while Carter had 11 points. Andrea Holmes added nine points and six assists in 40 minutes.
Canisius returns to the Koessler Athletic Center court on Wednesday, when the Golden Griffins host Albany. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Notes: Canisius extended its NCAA record of consecutive games with a 3-pointer to 459 games on a 3-pointer by Russell midway through the first half... Canisius and Binghamton met for the fifth consecutive season, with Canisius winning the last four in the series… Canisius posts a winning record in the month of November for the third time in the last four seasons… Canisius has now won 22 of its last 29 home games… Radke didn't reach double figures for the first time this season… Freshman Ashley Durham connected on a 3-pointer in the second half, giving her a 3-point basket in all five games of her career… Russell moved into 18th place on the career scoring list (1,073 points), passing Cheri Wittlieb. Russell also moved into seventh place in free throws made (255) and seventh place on the career minutes played list (3,256)… Russell scored 20 points in a game for the first time since Dec. 21, 2007, when she scored a career-high 25 at Missouri State… Russell went 8-for-8 from the line for the second time in her career, which also came against Missouri State on Dec. 21, 2007… Canisius improved to 18-0 under Zeh when holding an opponent under 50 points… The 49 points scored are the fewest in a Canisius win since a 48-44 win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Nov. 18, 2006.
