Women's Basketball 3/4/2010 10:04:00 PM Canisius College Athletics

Defense Leads to First-Round Win for Women's Basketball

ALBANY, N.Y. – The Canisius College women's basketball team forced 25 turnovers and held Saint Peter's to three field goals during the final 10 minutes to earn a 65-58 win in the first round of the 2010 Citizens Bank MAAC Championship at the Times Union Center on Thursday.

No. 9 seed Canisius (12-18) advanced to the quarterfinals to face No. 1 seed Marist (23-7). The Golden Griffins and Red Foxes are meeting for the third consecutive season and fifth time in the last seven seasons.

Senior Ellie Radke had her fourth career double-double and third of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Brittané Russell had 12 points, three assists, one turnover and three steals in just 27 minutes as Russell was saddled with foul trouble in the first half. Freshman Allison Braun had 11 points – nine in the second half.

“The energy and effort level was good today, that's what you need to win in the postseason,” Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. “We had a lot of people step up and give us contributions. That's what you need to get if you want to win four games in four days.”

Saint Peter's (11-19) opened up a 19-12 lead midway through the first half as Canisius started the game 3-for-14 from the field. The Griffs then made four straight shots and scored 11 consecutive points – getting seven from Radke during that stretch along with baskets from Ashley Durham and Micayla Drysdale — to go up 23-19. The Griffs held Saint Peter's to three field goals during the final nine minutes of the first half and went into the locker room with a 30-25 lead.

The Griffs pushed their lead to nine points on two occasions early in the second half, capped by a strip and steal from Tasia Lee, who found a wide-open Braun under the hoop to go up 39-30. The Peahens made their run during the next six minutes, putting together a 14-4 run with a 3-pointer from Alena Ali giving Saint Peter's a 44-43 lead with 10:34 remaining.

Canisius came right back and a turn-around jumper from Braun put Canisus ahead for good. The Peahens made three field goals during the final 10:34 of the game as Canisius forced six consecutive turnovers and went up 53-46 after four straight points from Lee.

The Griffs went 25-for-38 from the free-throw line on the day but strugled late in the game that included a stretch of 3-for-8. Canisius did make four free throws in the final 15 seconds to ice the game.

Ali led Saint Peter's with 15 points as four Peahens reached double figures. Charlene Riddick had 12 points and nine rebounds while Jynae Judson had 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals.

Notes: At the postseason awards banquet Thursday evening, four Golden Griffins were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team — Radke, Drysdale, Tauralee Tenn and Stephanie MacDonald. Radke, Drysdale and Tenn all receive the honor for the second consecutive season... Canisius extended its NCAA record of consecutive games with a 3-pointer to 484 games on a 3-pointer by Russell just over five minutes into the game. The 3-pointer also extended Russell's personal streak to 27 games, one off the program record of 28 held by Shauna Geronzin… Canisius and Saint Peter's met for the third time in the MAAC Championship… Canisius is the No. 9 seed for the third time in program history (2000, 2001) and has won its first game each time… Cansius played in the first round for the second time in three years and sixth time in program history. Canisius has won its last five games in the first round… Canisius has won at least one postseason game in three straight years and in seven of the last eight seasons… Radke is the first Griff with 20 points in a MAAC Championship game since Amanda Cavo had 21 against Fairfield on March 3, 2006... Canisius wins as the lower seed in the MAAC Championship for the first time since the 2005 title game and improves to 6-7 as the lower seed since 2000… Zeh improves to 8-4 in MAAC Championship games… Radke has scored in double figures in four straight MAAC Championship games, averaging 14.8 points and 7.5 rebounds and shooting 52.4 percent from the field during that stretch… The 38 free-throw attempts tie a Canisius MAAC Championship record for most free-throw attempts in a game, matching the 38 attempts against Fairfield on Feb. 26, 1999.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

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

#11 Tauralee Tenn: G; 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

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

#11 Tauralee Tenn
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G