NIAGARA UNIV. — The Canisius women’s basketball team continues its road swing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, as the squad heads up to Lewiston for a midweek rivalry match up against Niagara.
After opening its road trip with a victory over Saint Peter’s, it looked like the Blue and Gold were well on its way to its second-straight victory against Monmouth on Sunday, after leading for three-straight quarters. However a fourth-frame collapse, with the squad scoring just six points (all from free throws) allowed the Hawks to overtake the Griffs, 55-53. Canisius was led by its icelandic duo, as Margret Halfdanardottir scored a game-high 17 points, while Sara Hinriksdottir hit double-figures for a 15th time this season, with 13. Lauren D’Hont also reached double-figures for a fifth-straight game, scoring 11.
The tale of the game came in the fourth as the Griffs were outscored 16-6 in the final frame. Coming into the game on Wednesday, Canisius is 4-13 and 3-5 in MAAC play. Hinriksdottir leads the team with 14.8 points, while D’Hont also averages double-figures this year, averaging 10.9 points per game. Halfdanardottir’s play of late has vaulted her up the team scoring chart, as she averaged 9.8 points per game. Aside from leading the team in points, Hinrikdottir also paces the team in rebounds, averaging 5.4 per contest. Tamara Miskovic is the team’s assist leader, averaging 2.8 helpers per contest this season. As a team the Blue and Gold is averaging 61.1 points per game, while opponents are tallying 68.2 points per contest. Canisius is taking down 31.9 rebounds per game, however its foes are recording boards at higher clip, averaging 39.6. Turnovers have also been a point of emphasis, as the Blue and Gold are turning it over 16.2 times per game while opponents are giving it away 14.2 times per match up.
The Purple Eagles earned a 62-59 victory over Manhattan in the final seconds of the game on Sunday, Jan. 15. Kaylee Stroemple led the Purple Eagles in scoring with 15 points. She also had a team-best three steals and five assists. Redshirt-junior forward Rampado leads the Purple Eagles in scoring with 15.9 points per game and in rebounding with 8.1 rebounds per game. Rampado is second in the MAAC in rebounding and fourth in scoring. Junior forward Stroemple also averages in double figure scoring with 12.6 points per game. Stroemple has the best field goal percentage in the MAAC; she is 85-for-158 for a percentage of 53.8. Niagara leads the MAAC in 3-point field goal percentage; the team is 108-for-302 (35.8%) and is third in the MAAC in overall field goal percentage (40.7%).
The Griffs come into the contest leading in the all-time series history 54-35. The Griffs had its five game winning streak against the Purple Eagles snapped in the MAAC tournament last year, losing 65-64. Canisius holds a 24-14 advantage when playing at the KAC and a 25-16 advantage when playing up in Lewiston. The Blue and Gold and Niagara have faced each other eight times at neutral sites/MAAC Tournament gams and Canisius owns a 5-3 lead. Under Terry Zeh Canisius has seen much prosperity when it comes to facing Niagara as the head coach is 20-9 all-time against the Purple Eagles. Zeh has posted identical 8-4 marks at home and the road and is 4-1 at neutral sites.
After defeating Niagara in the final showdown of the 2015-16 season, women’s basketball helped clinch the sixth-straight canal cup. It is the eighth time in 10 years the Griffs have defeated Niagara in the Battle of the Bridge. Canisius currently holds a 7-3 lead in the points this season through the fall-season and each basketball meeting is worth two points. The Battle of the Bridge is an all-sports competition between the schools. Points are awarded for all regular-season, conference match-ups, except for cross country, swimming and diving and golf where the points are awarded based on results in the MAAC Championship. Niagara’s only wins came in the inaugural competition in 2006-07 and also won in 2009-10.
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