Behind a career-high 27 points from senior Kayla Hoohuli, the Golden Griffins women's basketball team defeated the Niagara University Purple Eagles, 65-59 at the Koessler Athletic Center on Tuesday evening. The victory against the Over the Bridge rival was the second time the Griffs defeated the Purple Eagles this season.

With the win, Canisius moves to 10-18 overall and has a 8-11 record in MAAC play. The loss drops the Purple Eagles to 13-15 overall and 9-10 in the conference. 

Hoohuli scored her 27 points on 7-11 shooting, 5-6 3-pointers and was a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe. The Griffs shot 70.0 percent from 3-point land, a Canisius had 25 points off of the 21 turnovers by the Purple Eagles and the Griffs bench contributed with 22, including 9 from sophomore guard Lauren D'Hont.

The Griffs went on a 11-3 run to finish the game, including scoring the final six points of the game. The Blue and Gold were down two with 2:56 left in regulation and sophomore Tamara Miskovic made a clutch lay-up assisted by Crystal Porter to tie the game with 2:41 left. Following her lay-up Miskovic recorded a steal and found D'Hont for a lay-up putting the Griffs up, 58-56.

Canisius went on a 7-3 run in the last two minutes of action which saw Hoohuli, Tiahana Mills and Jasmine Mungo all get to the line and hit clutch free-throws down the stretch. Mungo's two free-throws with 13 seconds left in the game, clinched the victory for the Blue and Gold.

Niagara was led by forward Victoria Rampado who recorded a double-double, 20 points and 11 boards, and guard Meghan McGuinness who had 12 points of her own on 4-8 shooting.

Game Notes: Hoohuli's previous career-high was against the Purple Eagles earlier this season when she dropped 26 points against Niagara at the Gallagher Center on Jan. 21...the game at the KAC was the last of the senior's career..the 70.0% shooting from 3-point land was a team-high under head coach Terry Zeh's tenure with the Blue and Gold...the victory over Niagara was Zeh's 100th career MAAC victory..the win over Niagara was Zeh's 18th of his career, tying it with his 18 wins over Rider and Saint Peter's.