Five Things to Know: Women's Basketball to Face Rider on Thursday

Game No. 13
Rider (3-10, 1-3 MAAC) at Canisius (2-10, 0-3 MAAC)
Date: Thursday, Jan. 13
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Buffalo, N.Y. | Koessler Athletic Center
Fan Vaccination Policy: CLICK HERE | FAQs
Broadcast: ESPN3
Talent: Jay Moran (play-by-play) and Griffin Della Penna (analyst)
Live Stats: Via GoGriffs.com
Twitter: @GriffsWBB | #Griffs | #MAACHoops
Instagram: @GriffsWBB | #Griffs | #MAACHoops

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. Opening Tip
The Canisius women's basketball team continues its five-game homestand when it hosts Rider on Thursday at the Koessler Athletic Center. Tipoff between the Broncs and Golden Griffins is scheduled for 7 p.m.

2. Stubbs Honored by MAAC
Freshman guard Cheyenne Stubbs was named MAAC Rookie of the Week, the conference announced Monday afternoon.

Stubbs has now been named MAAC Rookie of the Week twice over the last three weeks. She is the first Golden Griffin freshman to earn multiple Rookie of the Week honors in a season since Kayla Hoohuli in 2011-12.

In Sunday's overtime loss to "Battle of the Bridge" rival Niagara, Stubbs had a career day in her first collegiate start. She posted season-highs in points (14) and assists (7) while going 5-for-10 from the field and 4-for-6 from 3-point range.

3. Have a Day!
Four Canisius players recorded career-high point totals in the Griffs' 87-86 overtime loss to "Battle of the Bridge" rival Niagara on Sunday.

Sophomore guard Dani Haskell had a game-high 27 points for the Griffs in the setback, while freshmen guard Lydia Gattozzi (17 points) joined Stubbs (14 points) and freshman forward Rhay Porter (7 points) in also establishing season-high point totals.

For Haskell, it was her third career 20-point game — all of which have come this season. In addition to her career-high scoring output, she added a single-game high four steals while matching her career highs in rebounds (7) and assists (4).

4. Protecting the Rim
Graduate student forward Ella Väätänen and Porter have both been protecting the rim as of late. Väätänen has recorded a block in each of her last seven games, while Porter has a block in nine of her 11 collegiate appearances this season – including her last five.

Väätänen's block streak is currently the longest of her collegiate career, eclipsing her previous long of five games during the 2018-19 season while playing for LIU.

The Tuusula, Finland, native is just the fourth Griff (fifth occurrence) in the last 20 years to record a blocked shot in seven consecutive contests. She is the first player since Ashley Wilkes in 2012-13 to register a seven-game block streak.

With a block in Thursday's contest, Väätänen would be the first Golden Griffin with an eight-game block streak since Whitney Ellenor during the 2009-10 season.

Porter's six blocks in Sunday's overtime loss matched the most by a first-year player amongst Division I players this season. The six rejections were the most by a Canisius player since Jen Lennox against Rider on Jan. 20, 2013.

5. Porter Closing in on History
It comes as no surprise that after her six-block game, Porter is closing in on some history.

The Scotia, N.Y., native has 18 blocks over her 11 appearances, ranking as the third-most by a first-year player in Canisius' Division I era. Her 18 blocks are the most since Tiana Pugh recorded 22 blocks in as many games during the 2019-20 season.

On Sunday, Porter surpassed Kristen Scheuermann (1987-88) — the mother of teammate Hannah Dolan, Maggie Guidry (1996-97), Nicole Arlain (1992-93) and Courtney VandeBovenkamp (2010-11) to enter the top-three.

Only Lennox (2010-11 — 28) and Ellenor (2009-10 — 22) have had more blocks in their first season with Canisius.

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

#14 Dani Haskell: G; 5' 6"; Sophomore

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#14 Dani Haskell
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: G

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

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

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

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