Five Things to Know: Women’s Basketball Opens Season at Buffalo

Game No. 1
Canisius at Buffalo
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 9
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. | Alumni Arena
Broadcast: ESPN3
Talent: Sal Capaccio (play-by-play) and Brian Koziol (analyst)
Live Stats: Via UBBulls.com
Twitter: @GriffsWBB | #Griffs | #MAACHoops
Instagram: @GriffsWBB | #Griffs | #MAACHoops

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. Opening Tip
Following a program record 324-day break from game action, the Canisius women's basketball team opens its 2021-22 season on the road against crosstown rival Buffalo at Alumni Arena on Tuesday. Tipoff is slated from 7 p.m.

Fans attending Tuesday's game inside Alumni Arena are requested to wear a mask at all times regardless of vaccination status.

2. Long Time Coming
Canisius had its 2020-21 season halted after just five games due to health and safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team's last game was Dec. 20, 2020, when the Griffs dropped a road contest to Saint Peter's, 65-40. After a pair of pauses of team activities on Jan. 3 and Jan. 28, the program announced Feb. 4, it would not complete the remainder of the season.

The decision was made with the overall health and safety of the women's basketball student-athletes in mind. Non-COVID-19-related injuries also affected the team's roster, which further impacted the program's ability to safely practice and compete.

3. Beginning of a New Era
Tuesday marks the first game under first-year head coach Sahar Nusseibeh. The game is also Nusseibeh's debut as a head coach. She has previously assumed roles with four schools over the last 10 years, most recently having spent the last three years at Miami (Ohio), serving as the team's defensive coordinator.

Nusseibeh is also familiar with the landscape of the MAAC, having spent three years at Manhattan on Heather Vulin's staff.

4. Opening with the Bulls
Canisius is squaring off against crosstown Buffalo rival in its season-opening game for a second consecutive season. The Griffs hosted the Bulls at the Koessler Athletic Center last year on Dec. 6, losing 87-45.

Tuesday marks the 10th time Canisius is opening a season against Buffalo. It is the first such road game against the Bulls since Nov. 2008.

5. New Faces
Canisius welcomes seven freshmen to this year's squad, which is tied for the 16th-most first-year players for a Division I program. The Griffs' seven newcomers is the most for any MAAC school. Iona has the second-highest total with six.

Athina Lexa (Thessaloniki, Greece), Xanthippi Karatasiou (Katerini, Greece) and Èlia Páez (Sabadell, Spain) are three freshmen who are coming to the United States for their schooling. Canisius' three international freshmen on its roster is tied for the sixth-highest total in all of Division I women's basketball. Wichita State has the most with five. Iona is tied for second in the nation, while leading the MAAC with four international freshmen.

Lydia Gattozzi (Chardon, Ohio), Hannah Dolan (Williamsville, N.Y.), Cheyenne Stubbs (Bradenton, Fla) and Rhay Porter (Scotia, N.Y.) round out the remaining four remaining freshmen that will begin their collegiate careers on Main Street for the Blue and Gold.

The seven freshmen for the Griffs are the most first-year players on a single-season Canisius roster on record. The previous record was set during the 2002-03 season with six.

For complete coverage of Canisius women's basketball, follow the Griffs on social media at @GriffsWBB on Instagram and Twitter.

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Players Mentioned

#11 Hannah Dolan: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

#13 Xanthippi Karatasiou: G; 5' 9"; Freshman

#12 Athina Lexa: G; 5' 9"; Freshman

#24 Cheyenne Stubbs: G; 5' 5"; Freshman

#2 Lydia Gattozzi: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

#33 Rhay Porter: F; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#11 Hannah Dolan
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

#13 Xanthippi Karatasiou
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: G

#12 Athina Lexa
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: G

#24 Cheyenne Stubbs
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: G

#2 Lydia Gattozzi
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

#33 Rhay Porter
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: F