Women's Basketball 1/24/2010 11:01:00 PM Canisius College Athletics

Saint Peter?s Controls the Boards to Defeat Women's Basketball

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Saint Peter's used a 52-27 rebounding edge – including 23 offensive rebounds resulting in 17 second-chance points – to end the Canisius College women's basketball team's three-game winning streak in the Yanitelli Center on Sunday. The Golden Griffins lost 66-59 to fall to 8-10 overall and 3-4 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Senior Brittané Russell led Canisius with 16 points and four steals in only 27 minutes as Russell was saddled with foul trouble in the first half. Senior Ellie Radke had 14 points and a team-high six rebounds while freshman Allison Braun had eight points, including 4-for-4 from the free-throw line where Canisius was 16-for-19 on the day.

“Saint Peter's pounded us on the glass today. Simply put, we weren't able to keep them from getting offensive rebounds,” Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. “Those second chances allowed Saint Peter's to build the lead early in the second half, and when they had to make tough shots down the stretch, they did.”

Saint Peter's (7-12, 3-5 MAAC) controlled the game early, building a 12-6 lead on two free throws from Natasha Morris. The Griffs chipped away at the lead and eventually used a 7-0 run — with all the points scored by Radke — to take a 26-23 lead. A 3-pointer by Brianna Lucas put Canisius up 31-27, but the Peahens scored the final three points of the half to make it a one-point game at the half.

Saint Peter's carried that momentum to the start of the second half by scoring the first seven points, with a three-point play from Jynae Judson capping the 10-0 run, putting the Peahens up 38-31. Canisius responded with a 7-2 run, which included a breakaway layup from Tasia Lee and 3-pointer from Russell that made the score 40-38.

That two-point deficit would be as close as Canisius could get as the Golden Griffins never had the ball on the offensive end in a one-possession game. Saint Peter's hit a couple of 3-pointers late in the shot clock – including the second 3-pointer of the season from Charlene Riddick. The Peahens used three 3-pointers in the span of four minutes to push its lead to 61-51. Canisius cut the Saint Peter's lead to 62-59 on a coast-to-coast three-point play from Ashley Durham. The Peahens made all four of their free throws in the final 32 seconds to put the game away.

Alena Ali led Saint Peter's with 17 points while Natasha Morris had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jynae Judson had 13 points and eight rebounds as Saint Peter's shot 35 percent from the floor and 6-for-12 from behind the arc.

Canisius returns home next weekend to begin a stretch of four out of five games in the Koessler Athletic Center. The Golden Griffins host Marist on Friday, with tipoff set for 4:30 p.m. The game is part of an ESPNU doubleheader, which will be televised nationally.

Notes: Canisius extended its NCAA record of consecutive games with a 3-pointer to 472 games on a 3-pointer by Lee midway through the first half... Canisius lost for the third consecutive year in the Yanitelli Center... The 12 turnovers for Canisius were the fewest in a loss this season... The -25 rebounding margin was the biggest since Iona out-rebounded Canisius 61-29 on Jan. 12, 2008... Canisius had 22 points off 19 Saint Peter's turnovers, the most points off turnovers for Canisius since Dec. 16, at Duquesne... The 84.2 free-throw percentage was the highest by the Griffs this season in a game where they had at least 10 attempts.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Allison Braun: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

#22 Ashley Durham: G; 5' 5"; Freshman

#3 Tasia Lee: G; 5' 8"; Senior

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

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

Players Mentioned

#15 Allison Braun
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

#22 Ashley Durham
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: G

#3 Tasia Lee
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

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

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