BUFFALO — The Canisius women’s basketball team wraps up its busy week on Saturday, as the squad hosts MAAC leader, Quinnipiac at the Koessler Athletic Center. Game time is slated for 2 p.m.
Canisius is coming off a two games prior to Saturday’s contest, having opened 2017 with a win at Manhattan, 62-57, before falling to Marist on the 18th annual Kids Day. The Griffs tallied a strong second quarter, as the Blue and Gold out scored Marist 25-8 to end the first half. However in the final two frames, Marist offense got going, especially in the fourth quarter, outgunning the Griffs 28-14 in the final stanza. Sara Hinriksdottir was once again the most lethal offensive threat for the Griffs, pouring in 18 points and four rebounds to end her day. Canisius had three others reach double-figures as Margret Halfdanardottir (15 points), Saliah Serrette (12 points) and Lauren D’Hont (10), helped spur the offense. Canisius enters the contest with a 3-11 overall record and a 2-3 MAAC mark. Hinriksdottir and Lauren D’Hont both average double-figures as the sophomore is pacing the team with 15.0 points per game and 5.3 rebounds, while D’Hont is scoring at 10.8 points per game clip. Margret Halfdanardottir leads the team in assists per game with a 3.0 mark. As a team the Blue and Gold is averaging 62.4 points per game, while opponents are tallying 70.4 points per contest. Canisius is taking down 31.9 rebounds per game, however its foes are recording boards at higher clip, averaging 39.1. Turnovers have also been a point of emphasis, as the Blue and Gold are turning it over 16.1 times per game while opponents are giving it away 14.4 times per matchup. In conference action, the Griffs have posted better numbers:
• The Blue and Gold have +2.0 scoring margin in conference action and is outshooting opponents 48.9 to 38.8.
The top team in the MAAC was given quite the test on Thursday as the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team trailed for more than 90 percent of their game at Niagara before pulling off a fourth quarter rally to take a 71-64 win over the Purple Eagles. The Quinnipiac women’s basketball team has certainly caught the attention of votes as the Bobcats earned a program record No. 2 ranking in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll. Quinnipiac’s 11-3 record (4-0 MAAC) garners the program’s best ranking ever in the national mid-major poll, besting the previous high mark of No. 4 from earlier this season (Nov. 25). The opening of conference play has marked the beginning of Paula Strautmane’s dominance this season as the sophomore is averaging 10.4 points (48.9 FG%), 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 steals in just 17.6 minutes over five league games. The Bobcats come into the weekend on a four game winning streak, with its last loss coming against ranked Oregon State on Dec. 20.
The series history between the Bobcats and Griffs is a relatively short one, with Quinnipiac having won all seven meetings between the two squads. All six contests have come from 2013 to 2016. Quinnipiac holds a 3-0 record at home, 3-0 on the road, while boasting a 1-0 record in the two team’s only meeting in the MAAC tournament. Canisius has never had a meeting with Quinnipiac before the 2013 season, as Terry Zeh is 0-7 against the Bobcats.
from GoGriffs.com via IFTTT
