The Canisius women's basketball team overcame an 18-point second-half deficit to make the biggest comeback in program history and defeat Saint Francis 87-74 on Sunday afternoon in Loretto, Pa. The Golden Griffins outscored the Red Flash 42-11 to close out the game and pick up their first win of the season. 

Five Golden Griffins scored in double figures for the second time this season, led by 17 points from senior Kayla Hoohuli, who drained three 3-pointers, had three steals and didn't commit a turnover in 34 minutes. Junior Crystal Porter had 10 points and nine rebounds while junior Tiahana Mills had 16 points and six rebounds. Junior Emily Weber and sophomore Lauren D'Hont each scored 14 points as Canisius went 10-for-18 from behind the arc.

“We started attacking their pressure for layups in the second half, instead of jump shots, which was really key. Canisius coach Terry Zeh said. “I'm really proud of us because we have been digging. In the first few games we didn't get what we wanted, and we went down in this game. We could have easily folded, and they didn't fold. I'm really proud of that.”

Saint Francis (0-4) took control of the first half with an 8-0 run to build a 24-18 lead and led for the rest of the half. The Red Flash extended their lead to 10 points at the half and led 63-45 with 13:22 before the Griffs started their comeback. 

Canisius (1-3) made a 21-3 run during the next seven minutes and tied the game at 66-66. Canisius scored on 10 of 14 possessions during the spurt, capped by a 3-pointer from Weber to knot the score. Canisius took the lead for good on a 3-pointer from Mills with 4:56 left to put Canisius up 73-70. The Griffs outscored the Red Flash 17-4 during the final five minutes and closed out the game on the 42-11 run. 

The Griffs return home to the Koessler Athletic Center for the first four games of the month of December. Canisius opens MAAC play against Manhattan on Friday, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

Notes: The previous largest comeback for the Griffs was a 14-point deficit overcome at Maryland Eastern Shore on Dec. 29, 2007… Canisius topped the 80-point mark for the first time since Jan. 9, 2012, against Iona and the 87 points were the most scored by the Griffs since they scored 89 at Missouri State on Dec. 21, 2007… Porter has at least 10 points and eight rebounds in each of the first four games… Canisius shot 63.0 percent from the floor in the second half. It's the fourth time in the last 14 seasons that Canisius has shot 63 percent or better in the second half… Canisius made 10 3-pointers for the first time since Nov. 27, 2013, against Buffalo… D'Hont matched her career high with the 14 points (Feb. 7, 2014 vs. Niagara)… Weber scored 14 points for the third straight game, which is her career high in scoring… Sophomore Laniere Coleman scored eight points on 4-for-4 shooting in 10 minutes off the bench.