PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - The Canisius College women's basketball team held off the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and picked up its first win with a 45-43 victory on Monday night. The Golden Griffins are now 1-2 on the season.

Sophomore Jamie Ruttle led Canisius with 14 points and eight rebounds while junior Ashley Durham had 13 points and six rebounds in 34 minutes. Canisius overcame 1-for-14 shooting from behind the arc by holding UMES to 20.4 percent from the floor.

"We found a way to get a road win, which is most important. We're still developing as a team as to who has what roles at certain times of the game," Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. "I was pleased with our defense, especially down the stretch, that forced UMES into tough shots."

Both teams got off to a slow start, and the Hawks went up 7-2 just over four minutes into the game on a 3-pointer from Caitlyn Dillard. The Griffs then held UMES to one field goal during the next nine and a half minutes, extending the lead to as many as seven points. Durham scored seven straight points to bring Canisius within one at 12-11. Later in the half, Ruttle scored eight of 10 for the Griffs, who took a 28-23 lead into the locker room.

In the second half, each team got off to a slow start again, with each team scored one field goal apiece in the opening six minutes. Canisius pushed the lead to 37-26 on a layup from sophomore Jen Lennox as Canisius held the Hawks without a field goal for nearly 12 minutes. The Griffs never gave up the lead in the second half as the Hawks got within one at 44-43. Freshman Kayla Hoohuli split two free throws to put Canisius up two. A 3-pointer from Kwinnyata Mercer missed and the putback jumper from Chelsea Sanders was also off the mark as the Griffs held on for the two-point win.

Sanders led UMES (0-3) with 15 points and eight rebounds. Mercer had nine points, making three 3-pointers.  

Canisius returns home to play Eastern Michigan on Sunday, with tipoff in the Koessler Athletic Center set for 2 p.m.

Notes: Canisius defeats Maryland Eastern Shore for the fourth time in all four all-time meetings... Ruttle has now scored at least eight points in 19 of the last 24 games... The Griffs forced UMES into 12 turnovers and held them to 4-for-23 shooting in the second half.