OLEAN, N.Y. - St. Bonaventure scored 26 of the game's final 31 points, holding the Canisius College women's basketball team without a field goal for the final 10 minutes, to defeat the Golden Griffins 66-44 in the Reilly Center on Sunday afternoon. Canisius falls to 2-6 on the season.
Senior Ashley Wilkes was the only Golden Griffin to score in double figures, posting a game-high 16 points to go along with a team-high seven rebounds. Sophomore Kayla Hoohuli had nine points while freshman Tiahana Mills recorded a game-high six assists.
"St. Bonaventure made its run and we couldn't answer. You have to be able to answer that type run, and we haven't been able to," Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. "Their veteran players stepped up and we are just a young team emotionally that needs to find the grind to win close games."
St. Bonaventure (6-6) held Canisius without a field goal for the opening seven minutes, building a 7-1 lead after a layup from CeCe Dixon. The Griffs then scored 13 consecutive points, including 3-pointers from seniors Ashley Durham, Wilkes and Hoohuli, to take a 14-7 lead. The Bonnies came back with a 10-point run of their own to take a three-point lead. Canisius would tie the game at 19-19 with 3-pointer from the wing from Hoohuli with just over two minutes left in the half. The Griffs took a 22-19 lead into the locker room when junior Jen Lennox converted a three-point play with 5.6 seconds remaining.
Both teams came out with more offensive production to start the second half, combining for 16 points in the first three minutes, with Canisius maintaining its three-point advantage. The Bonnies would tie the game at 32-32 but a layup from senior Allison Braun started a 5-1 run to put Canisius up by four.
St. Bonaventure started its run with a seven-point spurt to go up 40-37 on a 3-pointer from Dixon. A turnaround jumper from Lennox brought Canisius within one point with just over 10 minutes remaining. That would be the final field goal of the game for the Griffs, as St. Bonaventure limited Canisius to five free throws over the last 10 minutes. The Bonnies scored on eight straight possessions to take control of the game and win its 18th straight game against Big 4 opponents.
Three Bonnies posted 15 points on the day - Doris Ortega, Alaina Walker and Dixon. Ortega pulled down a game-high nine rebounds as St. Bonaventure held a 42-34 advantage on the glass and 15-7 advantage in turnovers.
Canisius plays its next two games at the Beach Classic at Long Beach University. The Golden Griffins face the host 49ers on Thursday, with game time set for 8 p.m.
Notes: St. Bonaventure defeats Canisius for the seventh consecutive season... Wilkes reached double figures for the fifth time this season... Mills now has 18 assists in the last three games... The 47 points allowed by Canisius in the second half are the most allowed in a half by the Griffs since allowing 49 to Buffalo on Dec. 1, 2010... Lennox recorded her team-best 12thblock of the season... Junior Jamie Ruttle did not dress and is listed as day-to-day with the head injury suffered in the Dec. 8 game against Albany.
