Box Score The Canisius women's basketball team couldn't overcome a couple of tough scoring stretches midway in the second half as the Golden Griffins lost 65-55 to Quinnipiac in the Koessler Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.
Senior Jamie Ruttle recorded her fourth career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, leaving her one point short of 1,000 points for her career. Senior Jen Morabito had 11 points, draining three 3-pointers for the fourth time in 10 games this season. Canisius shot 41.5 percent from the floor but couldn't overcome 21 turnovers and 6-of-13 shooting at the free-throw line.
“From practice the past few days, through the scouting report and to the game today, that was the best effort and attention to detail we've had all season,” Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. “Their zone affected our offensive rhythm, and we turned it over too much, but those are things we can work on and improve.
“We can and need to build on the last few days because I'm excited to coach that team we've seen the last few days for the rest of the season.”
Canisius (4-6, 0-1 MAAC) scored the first five points of the game before Quinnipiac came right back with eight points. The Griffs found success inside early in the half, with 10 of their first 15 points coming in the paint. Quinnipiac overcame 36 percent shooting in the first half by scoring 13 points off 14 Canisius turnovers. Canisius held Quinnipiac to one point for a stretch of four minutes before the Bobcats scored 12 points during a stretch of seven possessions to take a 28-26 lead. Canisius scored six of the final eight points in the first half and took a two-point lead into the locker room.
The Griffs built a five-point lead following a jumper from Morabito, and after Quinnipiac (6-6, 1-1 MAAC) tied the score at 38-38, a 3-pointer from Morabito gave the lead back to Canisius. A layup from redshirt junior Courtney VandeBovenkamp put Canisius ahead 43-39 with 12:33 left, but the Bobcats held the Griffs to two points and no field goals for a stretch of nearly six minutes.
The Griffs would go back inside and used two layups from senior Jen Lennox along with a layup from Ruttle to make it a two-point game at 53-51 with five minutes left. After the teams traded baskets, Quinnipiac held the Griffs scoreless for the next four minutes as Quinnipiac pulled away.
Jasmine Martin led all players with 22 points, including 4-for-5 shooting from behind the arc. Brittany McQuain had 10 points while Gillian Abshire had nine assists. Canisius held Quinnipiac to 35.5 percent from the floor but the Bobcats scored 24 points off the 21 Canisius turnovers
Canisius returns to the court after Christmas when the Golden Griffins open their MAAC road schedule at Manhattan. Game time in Riverdale on Sunday, Dec. 29, is set for 2 p.m.
Notes: Canisius and Quinnipiac met for the first time in program history… Ruttle, who played in her 100th career game, moved into 21st place on the career scoring list with 999 points… Morabito made three or more 3-pointers for the 29th time in her career… The Griffs shot 40 percent or better for the sixth time this season… Junior Kayla Hoohuli took a charge in the second half and now has taken 34 charges in her career… Sophomore Jasmine Mungo made her first career start… Freshman Tamara Miskovic recorded a career-best five assists... Junior Emily Weber did not dress and is out indefinitely with a leg injury.
