Game No. 11: Canisius College (5-5) vs. Cornell University (3-6)
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2011
Time: 5:15 p.m.
Location: Koessler Athletic Center (Buffalo, N.Y.)
TV: Time Warner SportsNet (tape delay)
      Brendan McDaniels (p-x-p)
      Mike MacDonald (color)
Video: GoGriffs.com/MAAC.TV
Audio: Golden Griffin Broadcast Network
      Mike Scott (p-x-p)

QUICK HITTERS

• The Canisius College women's basketball team wraps up its 2011-12 non-conference schedule against Ivy League opponent Cornell.
• Wednesday 's game is part of a doubleheader with the Golden Griffin men's basketball team, the third of six doubleheaders in the KAC this season.
• Canisius and Cornell  are meeting for the eighth time and for the second consecutive season. The Griffs defeated the Big Red 66-58 last season in Ithaca and have won six of the seven previous meetings.
• Canisius leads the MAAC at 14.4 assists per game. The Griffs have an assist on 72.7 percent of their field goals, which is the second-highest total in the country. The next highest percentage in the MAAC is 65.5 percent (Manhattan).
• Canisius is one of two schools in the MAAC (along with Rider) with four players averaging seven or more points per game and seven players averaging five or more points per game.
• Junior Ashley Durham has a career-high eight assists in each of the last two games. Durham ranks third in the MAAC in assists (4.3) and free-throw percentage (86.8).
• Canisius sophomore Jen Morabito is tied for second in the MAAC in 3-point field goals made per game (2.5) and is fourth in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (40.3).
• Canisius junior Ashley Wilkes leads the MAAC in field goal percentage (52.6). 
• In each of the last two games, Canisius has shot better than 80 percent from the free-throw line and over 50 percent from the field in the second half.
• Canisius has held its opponents to 22.5 percent from behind the arc in the last six home games.
• The 2011-12 Golden Griffin roster features zero seniors for the first time since the 2004-05 team. Every other roster in the MAAC features at least two seniors.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFS

• Sophomore Jamie Ruttle, the 2011 MAAC Rookie of the Year, leads Canisius in scoring (10.8) and rebounding (5.2). She has scored eight or more points in eight of 10 games. Of Ruttle's 52 rebounds, 22 are offensive rebounds.
• Sophomore Jen Morabito, a MAAC All-Rookie Team selection, has made 25 of the team's 55 3-point field goals this season. Morabito has made three or more 3-pointers in five games and has scored in double figures a team-high seven times this season, including four of the last five.
• Junior Allison Braun, the team's captain for the 2011-12 season, is shooting 54.1 percent from the field in the last seven games. Braun has at least five rebounds in six games and has at least one steal in eight of the last nine games.
• Junior Ashley Durham, who has a career-high eight in each of the last two games, is third in the MAAC in assists per game (4.3). Durham also ranks third in the conference in free-throw percentage (86.8) and has made 23 of her last 24 free throws.
• Sophomore Jen Lennox has scored six or more points in nine of the last 13 games. The 6-foot-3 forward has a block in 23 career games, including six blocks in the last six games.
• Junior Ashley Wilkes has at least five rebounds in seven of the team's games this season and has recorded at least one steal in eight games. Wilkes is averaging 11.5 points and shooting 66.7 percent (14-for-21) in four home games this season.
• Sophomore Courtney VandeBovenkamp has started each of the last two games. VandeBovenkamp has season highs with 14 ponts, five rebounds and 22 minutes against Albany. 
• Junior Melissa Gardner has scored 13 points with 13 rebounds and three assists while shooting 9-for-11 from the free-throw line in the last six games (48 total minutes). 
• Freshman Kayla Hoohuli has nine 3-pointers in the last five games after making three 3-pointers in the opening five games. Hoohuli has at least one steal in six of the last nine games and has taken a team-high six charges on the season.
• Freshman Brooke Angelos is averaging 5.8 assists per 40 minutes.

CORNELL SCOUT

• Cornell enters Wednesday's game with a 3-6 overall record. The Big Red has split its last four games.
• Cornell lost 73-49 to Manhattan on Dec. 20, when the Jaspers knocked down 13 3-pointers. The Big Red defeated Bucknell 65-45 on Dec. 18.
• Cornell has five returning starters and 10 returning letterwinners from last year's team. 
• Five Cornell players are averaging 25 minutes per game, with three more averaging 15 minutes.
• Sophomore guard Allyson DiMagno leads the team in scoring (11.4) and rebounding (7.0). 
• Junior forward Clare Fitzpatrick is second in each category, averaging 11.1 points and 6.8 rebounds. 
• Cornell is averaging 58.8 points per game and allowing 62.7 points per game. The Big Red is shooting 39.3 percent overall, including 31.4 percent from behind the arc and 41.9 percent on two-point shots. 
• Cornell has a -3.3 turnover margin and is averaging 18.0 turnovers per game. Cornell has a 34.3 offensive rebounding percentage and 65.1 defensive rebounding percentage. 
• Dayna Smith is in her 10th season at Cornell and ahs a career record of 88-166. Smith has also been an assistant coach at Penn and her alma mater Rhode Island.

SERIES HISTORY VS. CORNELL

• Canisius and Cornell are meeting for the eighth time, the second consecutive season and the fourth time in eight years under coach Terry Zeh.
• Canisius owns a 6-1 lead in the all-time series, including a win in all three meetings in Buffalo and all three meetings under Zeh.
• Last season in Ithaca, Jen Morabito had a breakout game with a career-high 24 points, including 5-for-8 shooting on 3-pointers. Melissa Gardner added 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks in 19 minutes while Jamie Ruttle had 12 points.