Second Half Surge by UAlbany Dooms Women's Basketball

Box Score UAlbany out-scored Canisius by a 40-21 margin in the second half to erase an eight-point deficit and post a 59-48 victory in collegiate women's basketball action Wednesday at the Koessler Athletic Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Great Danes (4-4) had two players finish in double digits with Helene Haegerstrand recording a game-high 19 points and Elle Hahne chipping in 13 while adding a game-best eight rebounds and three assists. As a team, the Great Danes shot better than 50.0 percent from the field, finishing with a 22-of-43 from the floor for the night (.512).

The Golden Griffins (2-5) were led by 16 points from graduate student guard Vannessa Garrelts. Garrelts was the only Canisius player to reach double figures as sophomore guards Lydia Gattozzi and Athina Lexa chipped in nine and seven points, respectively. Garrelts also finished the contest with a game-high five steals.

Trailing 27-19 at the start of the second half, the Great Danes took control of the game in the third quarter, shooting 7-of-12 (.583) from the field, highlighted by a 3-of-4 effort from beyond the arc, to grab a 38-34 advantage heading into the fourth. The Blue and Gold were unable to capitalize on an 8-5 advantage on the glass during the frame as they were just 3-for-10 from the floor, including an 0-for-3 effort from downtown.

The Great Danes built upon their lead in the fourth quarter as it used a 12-3 stretch, fueled by six points apiece from Haegerstrand and Grace Heeps, over a nearly four-minute span midway through the frame to take its largest lead of the game, 52-41, with under three minutes to play. The teams exchanged points the rest of the way, allowing UAlbany to secure the 59-48 victory.

UAlbany knocked down all but two of its 10 field-goal attempts during the final frame while Griffs were just 5-of-17 (.294) from the field and 0-of-5 from 3-point range during the last ten minutes of action.

Earlier in the contest, the teams found themselves tied at 6-all in the beginning stages of the first quarter when a layup by Garrelts sparked a 9-4 stretch for the Griffs that gave them a 15-10 advantage after ten minutes of action.

Canisius carried its momentum into the second quarter, using an 8-5 spurt out of the gate to extend its lead to 23-15. A pair of baskets under the two-minute mark from Garrelts and sophomore forward Lydia Gattozzi sent the Griffs to the locker room with a 27-19 advantage, setting the stage for the Great Danes' second-half comeback.

Game Notes
• Canisius made 21-of-55 (.382) attempts from the field compared to UAlbany, who went 22-of-43 (.512) from the floor during the game.
• Freshman forward Adrien LaMora checked into her first career game for Canisius with 1:02 left to go in the first half.
• The Griffs had their best shooting quarter in the first quarter, going 7-of-13 (.538) in the opening ten minutes.
• Canisius only went to the line seven times throughout the game, finishing the evening 5-for-7 (.714) at the charity stripe.
• Wednesday's game marked the third time this season and first game since Nov. 13 at Detroit Mercy that Garrelts finished as the leading scorer for the Griffs.

Up Next
The Blue and Gold are back in action next Wednesday at 6 p.m. against little three rival St. Bonaventure. The game will stream on ESPN+.

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Players Mentioned

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

#5 Athina Lexa: G; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#23 Adrien LaMora: F; 5' 11"; Freshman

#4 Vannessa Garrelts: G; 5' 4"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

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

#5 Athina Lexa
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: G

#23 Adrien LaMora
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: F

#4 Vannessa Garrelts
: 5' 4"; Graduate Student
: G