Women's Basketball Wraps Up Non-Conference Schedule Against Mount St. Mary's

Women's Basketball 2/8/2009 5:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Women's Basketball Rallies for Win at Siena

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. ? Holding Siena to one field goal for a stretch of more than 10 and a half minutes in the second half, the Canisius College women's basketball team defeated Siena 65-58 in the Alumni Recreation Center on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Griffins improve to 18-6 overall, 10-3 in the MAAC and have now won 17 of its last 20 games and 10 straight on the road.

Junior Brittan? Russell was one of four Golden Griffins to score in double figures, leading the team with 18 points that included 4-for-6 shooting from behind the arc. Sophomore Micayla Drysdale had 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Senior Marie Warner had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Amanda Cavo had 10 points.

“Siena took some things away from us and we had to adjust offensively, which is what Brittan? really helped us do,” Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. “Sundays in the MAAC, especially in February road games, are games you have to grind out. Our team showed guts, courage and its heart throughout that second half.”

Siena (9-12, 8-4 MAAC) shot 51.9 percent in the first half en route to holding a 33-27 halftime advantage. Canisius went up 20-19 on a jumper from Drysdale at the 8:32 mark before Siena scored eight straight points to take a seven-point lead. Allie Lindemann made a 3-pointer and Cristina Centeno added five points, including a three-point play. The Griffs cut it to 29-27 on a 3-pointer from Russell before Siena scored six of the final eight points to take the six-point halftime lead.

The Saints pushed their lead to as many as 11 points in the second half, going up 43-32 on a jumper from Heather Stec at 14:54. The Griffs would cut it to five before Siena pushed its lead back to eight on a 3-pointer from Sarah Fullmer.

After that 3-pointer, Canisius held Siena to one field goal for the next 10:36 as the Griffs took control of the game with a 20-4 run, that was started by the first career 3-pointer from JJ Williams. The Griffs scored 11 consecutive points, also getting a 3-pointer from Drysdale, a jumper from Warner and a 3-pointer from Cavo that put Canisius ahead for good at 54-51 with 3:41 remaining.

Canisius made six free throws in the final minute to put away the win.

Lindemann led the Saints with 13 points while Stec had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sarah Fullmer had 11 points and shot 3-for-5 from behind the arc.

Canisius returns to the road for two more games away from home next weekend, starting against Fairfield in Bridgeport, Conn. on Saturday. Game time in the Arena at Harbor Yard is set for 6 p.m.

Game Notes: Canisius extended its NCAA record of consecutive games with a 3-pointer to 445 games on a 3-pointer by Drysdale in the first half... The Griffs won for the eighth time under Zeh when trailing by five or more at the half and for the second time this season (Rhode Island, Dec. 22)... Canisius swept the season series from Siena for the first time since the 2005-06 season... Canisius ended a two-game losing streak in road games played against Siena, but has now won two straight against Siena in the ARC as the teams met in the Times Union Center the past two seasons... The 10th straight road win sets a new program record, breaking the mark of nine from the 1982-83 season... Canisius set a Division I program record with seven turnovers, the fifth time this season Canisius has had single-digit turnovers in a game... Canisius is 7-0 in MAAC road games... Williams has one other 3-point field goal attempt in her career, which came during the 2006-07 season... Cavo moved into eighth place on the all-time scoring list and now has 1,237 career points... Cavo has 247 career 3-point field goals... Cavo extended her consecutive made free-throw streak to 30... Canisius had four players in double figures for the first time since Jan. 4, at Niagara... Canisius made double-digit 3-pointers for the ninth time this season... Canisius is now 11-0 when winning the opening tip.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#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

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

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

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