The Canisius women’s basketball team attempts to go for its season-high third-straight victory as the squad plays Siena in Loudounville.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. and will be aired live in New York state on Time Warner Cable and will be available on ESPN3 outside of the state. Canisius is riding high after two-win week, taking down rival Niagara in Lewiston on Wednesday, and then recording a big home win over the Fairfield Stags on Sunday. In its latest game, the Griffs once again used stout defense to control the paint and outrebounded the Stags (32-28) and held Fairfield to just 33.3 percent shooting from the field. Canisius was led on offense by the usual suspects, with international sensation, Sara Hinriksdottir, leading the way with 17 points and eight rebounds. It was Hinriksdottir’s 17 double-digit game during the 19 game season so far. Also hitting double-figures was Margret Halfdanardottir, Maria Welch and Saliah Serrette, who all hit 11 points for the game. As a team the Blue and Gold were efficient from the field shooting near 50 percent with a mark of 48.9 percent from the field. With the win the Blue and Gold enters this contest agianst the Saints with a 6-13 record and a .500 MAAC mark, sitting at an even 5-5. Leading the team offensively is Hinriksdottir who averages 15.3 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per contest. She also shoots near 50 percent with a 47.3 percent from the field. Both Lauren D’Hont and Halfdanardottir are second on the team in points per game as the duo average 10.2 points per contest. Tamara Miskovic is the team’s assist leader, averaging 2.7 helpers per contest this season. As a team the Blue and Gold is averaging 61.4 points per game, while opponents are tallying 66.6 points per contest
The Saints come into the contest holding a 7-12 record and a 6-4 MAAC mark. Siena is riding a four-game winning streak dating back to Jan. 10 when the squad defeated Iona 58-46. Jackie Benitez has been the straw that stirs the drink for the Saints offense, averaging 16.8 points per game to lead the team. Also averaging double-figures for Siena is Meghan Donohue with 13.3 points per game and 5.6 rebound per game average, as well as Kollyns Scarbrough with an 11.4 points per game mark to go along with a 6.1 rebound per game average. Siena is averaging 64.9 points per game, this is the most since the 2002-03 season when the Saints averaged 71.0. Siena has scored 80 or more points in three games this season, the last time they did that was the 2013-14 season.
Siena holds the series advantage through the years, leading 47-24. Heading into Thursday’s contest played in Loudonville, the Saints have excelled on their home court against the Griffs, holding a 25-8 overall record when away from the KAC. Canisius has done better when playing at home in the series, having won 12 games, and dropped 19. Terry Zeh-led Canisius teams have fared better than previous counterparts, as coach Zeh is 10-14 in his time at Canisius against the Saints.
Sara Hinriksdottir has been the story of the year so far for Canisius and is tracking to have a historic year for the Blue and Gold. The sophomore is averaging 15.3 points per game, which is the most a Canisius leader in points has averaged since the 2008-09 season when Marie Warner averaged 16.0 points per game. Hinriksdottir has tallied 291 total points, in 19 games which is nine points short of last years leading total from Crystal Porter, who scored 301. The largest overall total in recent memory was Marie Warner’s total of 529 set in 2008-09. In order to reach that final total, Hinriksdottir would need to score 238 points in the final 10 games (not including postseason) to reach the mark.
The biggest story this year has been the breakout of Griffs sophomore, Sara Hinriksdottir. The second-year forward leads the team in points per game, notching 15.3 points per game, while ranking first on the team in rebounds per contest with a mark of 5.5. Hinriksdottir is one of seven players in the MAAC, who rank in the scoring top-10 and top-20 in rebounding.
Sara Hinriksdottir is going to command a lot of headlines for the Blue and Gold, as she’s having the best season of any Griff so far. Through 19 games, the Keflavik Iceland, native has hit double-digit points in 17. If she keeps up her torrid pace she could have the most double-figure games since Marie Warner (29) during the 2007-08 season. The next highest was Brittane Russell tallied 25 double-figure games in 2009-10. In order to best that mark she needs to record 10-or-more points in nine more games. There are 10 games left in the regular season, not counting the MAAC tournament.
from GoGriffs.com via IFTTT
