Women's Basketball 2/20/2003 12:00:00 AM Canisius College Athletics

Women's Basketball Heads to Siena to Start Final Road Trip

Canisius (11-12, 6-8 MAAC) at Siena (18-6, 11-3 MAAC) Friday, Feb. 21, 2003?7:00 p.m. Alumni Recreational Center?Loudonville, N.Y. Internet/Radio: None TV: None

Tonight Canisius travels to conference rival Siena looking to snap a three-game losing streak, the team's first of the 2002-03 season. The Griffs fell at home to Marist Feb. 16, 71-68, dropping Canisius to 11-12 overall and 6-8 in the MAAC. This is the first time this year the Golden Griffins have entered a game with a record below .500. Siena has won four-straight games after losing to Niagara Feb. 1. The Saints dropped Rider 85-60 in their last outing, with junior center Liene Jonsone scoring a game-high 16 points in the win. Jansone is the reigning MAAC Player of the Week after averaging 19 points and 7.5 rebounds last week in two wins over Saint Peter's and Rider. Canisius is looking to snap a four-game losing streak in Albany, N.Y., with the Blue and Gold's last win in the state capital coming over Iona in the first round of the 2000 MAAC Tournament over Iona.

Quick Hits Jenel Stevens was held to a season-low six points in Canisius' loss to Marist Feb. 16, snapping her streak of 26-straight games where the 5-foot-9 guard posted double figures in the scoring column. The last time she was held to less than 10 points in a game was Feb. 18, 2002, when Stevens scored four points in a loss at Fairfield... Canisius enters the game riding its first three-game losing streak of the season. Last year, the Blue and Gold dropped three-straight games twice, and also had a four-game losing streak through the month of November... Canisius is 3-1 this season when wearing its gold uniforms... Only three members on the current Canisius roster have beaten Siena. Seniors Jill Knapic, Jes Butler and Keia McFadden are 1-6 all-time against the Saints with the lone win coming during the 1999-00 season... Canisius shot a season low 15.4 percent (2-for-13) from behind the three-point arc Feb. 16, against Marist

Scouting the Siena Saints Siena enters this game riding a four-game winning streak. The team is 18-6 overall and 11-3 in MAAC play. Siena has three players averaging double figures in the scoring column, led by Liene Jansone's 16.6 points per game. She also leads the squad with 8.8 rebounds per contest. Gunta Basko is averaging 13.8 points and 8.3 boards per contest, while guard Mary McKissack is chipping in 12.4 points per outing. The Saints enter the weekend in second place in the MAAC standings.

Series History Siena holds a 31-12 all-time series advantage over Canisius, and has won the last six games between these two schools. Siena dropped Canisius by an 88-57 count in the first meeting between these two teams this season, Jan. 30, in Buffalo, N.Y. The Griffs have not beaten Siena in the capital region since the 1995-96 season when Canisius beat the Saints 78-70. Since joining the MAAC during the 1989-90 season, the Griffs are 4-8 at Siena.

From the Training Room Freshman Jackie Richards underwent knee surgery Dec. 17, and will miss the entire season.

Friendly Confines The Griffs own an all-time mark of 177-82 (.683) in the Koessler Athletic Center. The Dec. 6, game against Saint Peter's in the KAC was the 250th contest the women's program has played in the on-campus facility. The KAC underwent a $1.3 million facelift over the past three years, which includes adding reserved seating and bringing the capacity to 2,176. Season ticket sales have increased 400 percent from last season.

What's New About the KAC? Removal of drop ceiling Upgrades to the electrical, ventilation and acoustical systems New arena style seating The floor was refinished, repainted and resealed New scoreboards, banners, scorer's tables and baskets
Head Coach Mike Decillis 56-76; .424 (5th Year); Native of Irvington, N.J. Became the fourth coach in Canisius women's history to reach 50-career wins on the Griffs' bench. Won his first game as the Canisius head coach Nov. 27, 1998, a 92-90 win over Cornell. Was named the seventh head coach in program history July 20, 1998. Prior to coming to Canisius, Mike spent 14 seasons as the head coach at Nazareth College in Pittsford, N.Y., where he compiled a 253-129 record, making him the winningest coach in the history of Nazareth College athletics.

Stevens the Scorer Junior guard Jenel Stevens is leading the team and the MAAC with her 21 points per game scoring average this season. Stevens has scored 20-plus points in 14 games this season. She has been credited with double figures in the scoring column in 22 of the team's 23 games this season. Her 21 points per game (as of Feb. 17,) ranks her 13th in the nation in scoring average. Stevens is also the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 10 rebounds per game. She ranks 25th in the country in that category (as of Feb. 17) and second in the MAAC in rebounds per game. Along with Manhattan forward Rosalee Mason, Stevens is one of two MAAC players that currently average a double-double. Stevens scored her 900th career-point in the loss to Siena Jan. 30. She became the 18th player in Canisius women's history to reach the 900-career point plateau and only the second player to reach the mark since the 2000 season She enters tonight's contest ranked 16th all-time in career points scored with 941. She moved past former Canisius players Jill Wilson and Annette Sieracki on the school's all-time scoring chart with her 14 points against Manhattan Feb. 1. With 13 more points, Stevens will become one of the school's top 15 all-time scorers. Next on the list is former Griff player Jen McHugh, who scored 969 career points from 1988-92.

Not A Freshman Anymore Freshman guard Cheri Wittlieb has been a key scoring component all season long for the Golden Griffins. The 5-foot-9 guard from Lincroft, N.J., is averaging 8.9 points per game, and ranks second on the team in made three-point baskets with 46 three balls this year. Wittlieb, who is not on scholarship for Canisius, has scored a total of 205 points, the best point production from a Canisius freshman since Shauna Geronzin posted 329 total points in her rookie campaign of 1998-99. Geronzin finished her career in Blue and Gold as the school's all-time leading scorer with 2,012 points.

Canisius Numbers in the Nation (as of Feb. 17) The Golden Griffins rank in the Top 100 in the country in three different offensive categories this season. Canisius' 69.8 points per game ranks them 64th nationally in points scored per game. The Blue and Gold are ranked 96th in the country in free-throw shooting percentage at 70.9 percent from the charity stripe, and 32nd in the country in three-point field goals attempted.

Canisius Milestones Canisius' game at UMBC Nov. 30, was the Blue and Gold's 700th game in program history... Senior Keia McFadden is currently the program's active leader in games played with 107 entering today's game and her start against Siena Jan. 30, was the 50th time in her four-year career that she was in the starting lineup... Two freshmen, Jessica Steeves and Cheri Wittlieb have played in all 23 Canisius games this season, with Wittlieb starting in the last eight ball games. No Canisius freshmen played in every single game last season... Jenel Stevens has started in 32 consecutive games dating back to last season... Jes Butler played in her 90th career game as a Golden Griffin Feb. 12, at home against Niagara.

Three-Point Hoops For Everyone The Griffs' 13 three-point baskets in the win over Stetson Nov. 22, set a new school record for three-pointers made in a single game. The previous record of 11 was tied four different times prior to the 2002-03 team setting the new mark. Lucky 13 Canisius juniors Jenel Stevens and Lonnie Brown each pulled down 13 rebounds in the win over Manhattan Dec. 8. That outing marked the second time this season the junior duo pulled down 13 boards apiece in a Canisius win. Stevens and Brown also had 13 rebounds each in the Griffs' win at UMBC Nov. 30.

Hoop Honors Senior center Jes Butler has been nominated for the 2002-03 Creamland Dairies Men's and Women's Collegiate Basketball Student Athlete of the Year Award, the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau. This award honors college seniors for the athletic and academic achievement as well as community involvement. The Final 10 nominees will be announced March 3, 2003, with the three finalists heading to the awards banquet April 9, 2003 in Albuquerque, N.M. Butler is one of 31 players from across the nation chosen for this award. Siena College forward Gunta Basko is the only other nominee from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Double-Double The Fun When Canisius gets a player to post a double-double, they are in good shape this season. In nine of the Griffs' eleven wins this season, a player wearing Blue and Gold has posted a double-double in points scored and rebounds. The Griffs' win over Iona Jan. 19, and at Saint Peter's Feb. 6, are the only two games this year where the Blue and Gold got a win without a player registering a double-double in the final box score.

Preseason Poll Canisius was picked to finish seventh in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Junior guard Jenel Stevens was named first-team All-MAAC.

A Look at the Roster Numbers This season, Canisius has 14 players on its active roster. Nine of those players are either freshmen or sophomores. Canisius has just one player who wears a single digit jersey number (Christine Salinas, No. 5) and no player wears a jersey number higher than number 35 (Paja Grasevova, No. 35).

The Tall and Short of It The Griffs' boast two players listed at 6-foot 3 on this year's roster, senior Paja Grasevova and freshman Jessica Steeves. The shortest Griffs on the roster are senior point guard Keia McFadden and freshman point guard Becky Zak, who are both listed at 5-foot 6.

Looking to Replace a Star This is the first season Canisius will be on the floor without the program's all-time leading scorer Shauna Geronzin. Geronzin graduated last May with 2,012 career points. She was a four time All-MAAC selection and was named the conference's Rookie of the Year after her freshman campaign. Geronzin is currently an assistant basketball coach at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

On the Air Nine Canisius games will be aired on the Internet at www.GoGriffs.com this season, with the game against Niagara Feb. 12, also be aired on The River 105.1 FM. The Griffs will return to the school's athletic website Feb. 27, for a home game against Rider University.

Captains Senior Jes Butler and junior Jenel Stevens are this year's captains.

Canisius Signs Two Canisius announced the signing of two recruits during the NCAA's early signing period in November. Jessica Starkey (North Granby, Conn.) and Megan Lyte (Midhurst, Ont., Canada) signed their National Letters of Intent and will join the Canisius College women's basketball team next season. Starkey is a 5-foot 5 guard playing in her senior season at Northwest Catholic High School in Hartford, Conn. She was named to the Street and Smith's All-American honorable mention team prior to her junior season. Lyte is a 6-foot forward who averages 20 points a game at Eastview High School in Ontario. She also plays on several club teams, including the Barrie Royals and the Orillia Thunder.

Letter A to Z The Zak twins, Lisa and Becky, are the first two players in the history of the women's program at Canisius to have their last name start with the letter “Z”.

The Zaks Provide Another First The Zak sisters are also the first set of twins to ever appear on the Canisius College women's basketball roster.

Looking to Add Her Name Senior Jes Butler is a graduate of Rindge & Latin High School in Cambridge, Mass., the same school that produced former NBA great and current Washington Wizard assistant coach Patrick Ewing. Mike Jarvis, the head coach of the St. John's Red Storm coached at Rindge & Latin, and actors Ben Afflack and Matt Damon once graced the same high school hallways as Butler.

Lights, Camera, Action Sophomore guard Cavanaugh Hagen graduated from T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va., the same school that was the focus of the Disney film Remember the Titans, starring Denzel Washington. The hit movie focused on the school's 1971 state championship football team.

Non-Conference Schedule Canisius closed out its non-conference schedule with a win over St. Francis (Pa.) Jan. 2, at home. The Blue and Gold went 5-4 this season in games against teams from outside the MAAC. It was the Griffs' best season against non-conference foes since the 1994-95 season.

Magic Bus Canisius will travel to all 15 road games this season via bus. So far the team has compiled 89 hours on a bus.

Last Time Out Canisius used a 21-4 run in the opening minutes of the second half to cut a 17-point deficit, and had a chance to send the game into overtime, but timely Marist shooting dropped the Golden Griffins 71-68 in the Koessler Athletic Center Feb. 16. The loss dropped the Blue and Gold to 11-12 overall and 6-8 in MAAC play, marking the first time all season Canisius has sported a record under .500. Senior center Jes Butler had 18 points, while Lonnie Brown and Cheri Wittlieb added 11 points apiece in the loss. The Marist win snapped the Red Foxes' four-game losing streak to the Griffs.

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Players Mentioned

#34 Shauna Geronzin: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#32 Lonnie Brown: G; 5' 10"; Junior

#31 Jes Butler: F/C; 6' 0"; Senior

#35 Paja Grasevova: F; 6' 1"; Senior

#30 Cavanaugh Hagen: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#33 Jill Knapic: G; 5' 8"; Senior

#25 Jackie Richards: F/C; 6' 1"; Freshman

#5 Christine Salinas: G; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#13 Jessica Steeves: F/C; 6' 3"; Freshman

#24 Cheri Wittlieb: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

#20 Becky Zak: G; 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#34 Shauna Geronzin
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#32 Lonnie Brown
: 5' 10"; Junior
: G

#31 Jes Butler
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F/C

#35 Paja Grasevova
: 6' 1"; Senior
: F

#30 Cavanaugh Hagen
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#33 Jill Knapic
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

#25 Jackie Richards
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: F/C

#5 Christine Salinas
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: G

#13 Jessica Steeves
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: F/C

#24 Cheri Wittlieb
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

#20 Becky Zak
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: G