BUFFALO — The Canisius women’s basketball team host their first pair of MAAC contests this coming weekend, as the team hosts Rider on Friday, and Monmouth on Sunday. The friday contest begins at 7 p.m., while the Blue and Gold and Hawks play an afternoon matinee at 2 p.m.
Canisius enters the weekend with a 1-4 record, having suffered a 65-51 loss to Lamar last Sunday. The Cardinals used a 17-7 first quarter, as well as a relentless rebounding effort to tally the victory. Canisius was led offensively by its usual suspects, with Maria Welch and Sara Hinriksdottir posting 14 points, and Lauren D’Hont hitting double-figures as well with 11. Rebounding proved to be a difference maker for Lamar, as the Cardinals took down 55 rebounds to Canisius’ 30. Canisius kept fighting however, cutting the Lamar lead to four with 7:17 left in the third quarter, however that’s as close as the Blue and Gold got, eventually falling to defeat, 65-51. Lauren D’Hont leads the team with 13.8 points per game, while Sara Hinriksdottir has shot up the leaderboard as well, boasting 13.6 points per contest. Maria Welch is up there as well, averaging double-figures so far this year with a 12.5 point per game mark. Hinriksdottir also leads the team in rebounds per game with a 6.0 boards-per-game mark. Likewise she has spread the wealth, pacing the Griffs with 18 assists so far this season. The team comes into the weekend averaging 64.4 points per game, while opponents have gotten the best of the Canisius defense, averaging 74.6 points per game against the Blue and Gold. Rebounding has been a point of emphasis for Canisius as the team is averaging 32.0 boards per game, while opponents are taking down 45.2. The Griffs have protected the basketball this season, winning the turnover battle, 14.2-15.4.
This will be the 42nd edition of the Canisius vs. Rider series match-up, as the Blue and Gold have dominated the history, going 32-9 all-time against the Broncs. One of Rider’s nine victories against Canisius came in the very first contest, played during the 1981-82 season, as the Broncs upended Canisius, 75-73 in the EAIWA Regional tournament. The Griffs at one point had a 17-game winning streak spanning from Jan. 1 2001 to Jan. 23, 2009. Rider has had several two-game winning streaks with its latest coming two seasons ago when the squad defeated Canisius on Feb. 1 and on Feb. 20. Head coach Terry Zeh has been quite successful against the Broncs, going 20-4 all-time against Rider since his first season in 2004-05.
from GoGriffs.com via IFTTT
