Five Things to Know: Nusseibeh, Women’s Basketball Set to Return to Manhattan

Game No. 25
Canisius (4-20, 2-13 MAAC) at Manhattan (15-9, 10-5 MAAC)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 17
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Riverdale, N.Y. | Draddy Gymnasium
Broadcast: ESPN+
Talent: Jason Guerette (play-by-play) and Chris Williams (analyst)
Live Stats: Via GoJaspers.com
Twitter: @GriffsWBB | #Griffs | #MAACHoops
Instagram: @GriffsWBB | #Griffs | #MAACHoops

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. Opening Tip
For the first time in 777 days, the Canisius women's basketball team will play at Manhattan's Draddy Gymnasium on Thursday when the Griffs square off against the Jaspers. Tipoff from Riverdale, N.Y., is scheduled for 7 p.m.

2. Last Time Out
Freshman Athina Lexa scored a game-high 26 points to lift Canisius to a 65-61 victory over Marist at the Koessler Athletic Center last Saturday.

Sophomore Dani Haskell added 13 points and senior Erika Joseph chipped in 12 points for the Golden Griffins.

3. Nusseibeh Returns
Canisius head coach Sahar Nusseibeh makes her return to Draddy Gymnasium on Thursday.

Nusseibeh served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator on Heather Vulin's staff for three seasons (2016-19) before heading to Oxford, Ohio, where she served as Miami (Ohio)'s defensive coordinator for the past two seasons.

4. Joining Elite Company
Freshman Athina Lexa scored 26 points in the Griffs' 65-61 victory over Marist on Saturday, becoming just the fifth freshman (eighth occurrence) in the Division I era to net 25-plus points. She joins Heather Fiore (three times during 1993-94), Shauna Geronzin (twice in 1998-99), Rachel Decker (1991-92) and Amanda Cavo (2005-06), all of whom are in the program's 1,000-point club.

Lexa's 26-point performance is the highest scoring output by a Canisius first-year player since a 28-point game by Cavo at Niagara on Feb. 26, 2006. It was the most points scored by a Canisius freshman in a home game since Jan. 24, 1994, when Fiore scored 27 against Temple.

With a 20-point game this evening, Lexa would be the first Canisius freshman to score 20 points in consecutive games since Geronzin, the program's scoring leader, did so during the 1998-99 season.

5. Block Party!
Graduate student Ella Väätänen recorded a career-high five blocks in Saturday's victory over Marist, marking the third time a Canisius player blocked at least five shots in a game this season. Freshman Rhay Porter has the other two. The three instances are the most by the Griffs since Laura Buetow had three five-block games during the 2006-07 season.

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

#23 Erika Joseph: G; 5' 8"; Senior

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

#23 Erika Joseph
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

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

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