BUFFALO, N.Y. – Led by smothering defense and opportunistic offense, the Canisius College women's basketball team, defeated Bucknell, 61-56 at the Koessler Athletic Center on Sunday afternoon. With the win Canisius improves to 3-2 and 3-0 at home, while the Bison drop to 4-2.

For the fifth-straight contest, Canisius held the opposing offense to under 40 percent from the field, as the Griffs stifled Bucknell, holding its foe to just 20-of-55 for a 36.4 success rate. The Griffs also held the Bison's top offensive weapon, Jacquie Klotz, who entered the contest averaging a double-double (18 points and 11 rebounds) to just 16 points and seven boards.

The Griffs, meanwhile, shot 23-of-55 for the game, and were 9-of-22 from beyond the arc, as the squad posted a 41.8 shooting percentage from the field.

The Blue and Gold had three players post double-figure point-totals as Tiahana Mills had a breakout game, scoring 13 points (5-of-6) from the field, including two big treys. Margret Halfdanardottir and Maria Welch also recorded double-figures combining for six 3-pointers on the afternoon.

It looked as though Bucknell was going to control play early in the first quarter as Claire DeBoer hit a 3-pointer to make it 10-4, however the Blue and Gold stormed back using an 8-2 run to tie the game up, as the stanza expired.

The score remained close in the second frame, as the Griffs brought a slight 29-28 lead into halftime.

In the third quarter Canisius began to distance themselves from the Bison as the squad outscored Bucknell 16-8 in the frame. With time ticking down in the frame, Crystal Porter drilled a jumper to give Canisius its biggest lead of the stanza, up 45-36.

The Griffs pushed their lead out to 11 thanks to a Jasmine Mungo jumper, making it 52-41, however the Bison went on an elongated 15-7 run to cut the deficit to just three, with 1:47 left to play.

However in the final two minutes, Abby Schwenk and Mills both recorded key free throw makes to help seal the contest for the Blue and Gold, 61-56.

Canisius will be back in action to open MAAC play this coming weekend, when the squad travels to Saint Peter's on Friday and Rider on Sunday. Game times are 7 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.