Game Recap
Senior D'Jhai Patterson-Ricks poured in a career-high 27 points to lead the Golden Griffins (1-2) to an 84-82 comeback victory over Big 4 Rival St. Bonaventure (1-4) Sunday evening in non-conference women's basketball action in the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
With 16 seconds left, Patterson-Ricks stole the ball from Bona's Olivia Tucker and ran down the floor to score the game-winning lay-up with 13 seconds remaining. Canisius would hold off the Bonnies on their final possession, forcing a contested 3-pointer from Dejah Logan. Senior Tiana Pugh was fouled on the rebound and went 1-for-2 on the ensuing free-throws to seal the victory for the Blue and Gold.
Patterson-Ricks added a career-high eight rebounds and five assists in the contest. Pugh scored 22 points, going 7-for-9 from the field, including 4-for-5 from 3-point land. Junior Danielle Sanderlin collected eight points and 11 rebounds to aid the Griffs in the win. As a team, Canisius shot 53.3 percent from 3-point land and 44.4 percent from the field. The Blue and Gold also collected 43 rebounds, while outscoring St. Bonaventure in the paint (34-24) and on fast break chances (16-6).
For the Bonnies, four players recorded double-digit scoring numbers, led by Logan's 22 points. Asianae Johnson added 17 points, while Jurnee President and Emily Calabrese each recorded 13 points in the loss. Amanda Oliver collected nine of St. Bonaventure's 41 team rebounds. As a group, Bona went 28-for-63 from the field, including 13-for-32 from 3-point land.
Canisius started by scoring 10 of the game's first 14 points, however, St. Bonaventure would go on a 12-0 run to take a 16-10 advantage with 3:47 left in the first. The Bonnies would hold onto that lead for nearly 35 minutes of game action, and at one-point lead by as much as 15 points, which came with 7:14 left on the clock in the third quarter.
From there Canisius would chip away and make it a nine-point game at the end of the period. In the fourth, St. Bonaventure would bring its lead back up to 11-points, 80-69, with 4:49 left. The Griffs would go on to outscore the Bonnies 15-2 in the last 4:49 to earn the comeback victory in the home opener.
Head coach Scott Hemer's Post Game Comments
"We have so much growing to do and a lot of learning, but they can take a lot from this. (St. Bonaventure) was fouling us all night and we kept saying to them, you have to attack but you have to do it strategically. We were much smarter picking are spots to attack them later in the game and it got us some good opportunities."
"With a player like D'Jhai you have to take some of the bad with the good, and she was really good tonight. It wasn't perfect all the time but she is getting better at understanding when to pick her spots and that is something she has to continue to grow upon. When she has that attack mentality, she makes us all better."
Game Notes
• Sunday was the 55th meeting between Canisius and St. Bonaventure, with the Bonnies currently holding a 29-26 advantage.
• Sunday was the second-straight win for the Griffs at home over St. Bonaventure.
• This was the second consecutive come-from-behind win for Canisius at home, as the Griffs defeated "Battle of the Bridge Rival" Niagara, 52-51, at the end of regulation in its final home game last season.
• Pugh's 22 points were a career-high for the Rome, N.Y., native. She also hit on career-best four 3-pointers.
• Sanderlin reached double-digit rebounds for the first time this season and sixth time in her career.
• Canisius allowed 13 3-pointers, the most in a single game since Dec. 8, 2018, against Youngstown State.
• The Griffs outrebounded its opponent for the first time this season.
Up Next
Canisius will continue its November homestand with a Wednesday night contest against Colgate. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip on ESPN3 in the Koessler Athletic Center. For tickets, call (716) 888-TIXX or visit GoGriffs.com.
