BUFFALO — The Canisius women’s basketball team will host Siena at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Koessler Athletic Center.
After spending much of the season on the road in 2016-17, the Blue and Gold get a chance to settle into a month that features five of its eight games to be played, at the Koessler Athletic Center. It comes at a critical time of the year as well, as the Griffs enter the contest with a 9-17 overall mark and a 8-9 MAAC record. The week got started on the right foot as the Blue and Gold secured the season-sweep of Saint Peter’s with a 61-56 victory over the Peacocks. The final score isn’t indicative of the effort, as the Griffs led by 16 points with just four minutes left but when the Griffs emptied the bench, the Peacocks took advantage of late turnovers and fouls to narrow the margin. The Griffs were once again led offensively by Sara Hinriksdottir, who notched 17 points and five rebounds. Three other Griffs reached double-digits, as Margret Halfdanardottir (13 points), Lauren D’Hont (13 points), and Maria Welch (11 points) helped the Canisius cause. The Canisius defense did a nice job against the Peacocks, holding SPU to just 31.5 percent, while Saint Peter’s, namely Sajanna Bethea, won the battle of the glass 43-26. On the season overall, Hinriksidottir is Leading the team offensively, and averages 15.1 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per contest. She also shoots near 50 percent with a mark of 47.4 percent from the field. D’Hont is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game, to go along with a 4.0 rebound per contest mark. Also flirting with a double-digit average is Margret Halfdanardottir, who averages 9.2 per contest. The long-range specialist is shooting 39.0 percent from beyond the arc. The Blue and Gold is averaging 59.0 points per game, while opponents are tallying 64.0 points per contest.
Siena enters the weekend having just defeated Niagara 70-68 and has split its last four games, dropping games at Rider and Quinnipiac, but defeating Manhattan and Niagara. The Saints sit above the Griffs in the standings, with a record of 11-15 overall and a 10-7 MAAC mark. Siena has two players that rank in the top three in five different categories and ranks in the top three as a team in five categories in the MAAC. Jackie Benitez is ranked first in the MAAC in steals (3.2) and scoring (16.8). She is second in steals (3.2 and three-point field goals made (2.7) and third in free throw percent-age (.821). Meghan Donohue is first in the MAAC with a 57.1percent field goal percentage. Siena is second in the league with 10.2 steals per game. Siena is third in the MAAC as they average 66.1 points per game. Senior forward Meghan Donohue became the 27th member of the Women’s Basketball 1,000 Point Club on December 28, 2016 against Northeastern.
Siena holds the series advantage through the years, leading 48-24. While the Saints have excelled at home leading the series 26-8 in Loudonville, They have mixed results in Buffalo, holding a 19-12 advantage at the KAC. Terry Zeh-led Canisius teams have fared better than previous counterparts, as coach Zeh is 10-15 in his time at Canisius against the Saints.
With the return of its senior guard, Emily Weber, the Griffs are at full-strength when it comes to the team’s health. The Blue and Gold used its bench to its advantage on Thursday, as all 14 rostered players entered the game. It was the first time all season the Griffs have had every single player see minutes.
Entering the game against Rider on Feb. 12, Sophomore Sara Hinriksdottir had recorded double-digit points and eight-to-nine rebounds four times, flirting with a double-double. Finally against the Broncs, Hinriksdottir came through and accomplished the feat. Hinriksdottir scored 20 points and took down 12 rebounds as she not only recorded her first double-double, but also tallied the first for the team in the 2016-17 season. The last person to accomplish the feat was Lauren D’Hont against Marist last season she tallied 13 points and 10 boards.
With its win over Saint Peter’s, the Griffs continue to score wins in conference action. The Griffs are now near .500 for the season against its MAAC foes, with a 8-9 overall mark. With four games left to play the Griffs have a chance to post its most wins in conference since the 2012-13 season, when the team notched nine. Canisius has recorded eight wins in MAAC play in four of the last five seasons with its victory over the Peacocks.
The Griffs celebrate the careers of three seniors on Saturday, as Lauren D’Hont, Emily Weber and Tamara Miskovic all play their final home game as a member of the Golden Griffins. Here are some notes about each player
D’Hont:
• A two-time, soon-to-be three time member of the MAAC All-Academic Team, this senior enters her final home game with 735 career-points and a 6.4 point per game average.
• Her senior year has been her best so far, averaging over 10 points per game (10.5) and four rebounds per contest, season-best marks.
• D’Hont was also a member of the All-Rookie team in 2013-14 after appearing in 28 games in 2013-14, and averaging 4.3 points per contest.
• Coming into Saturday D’Hont has appeared in over 100 games, and made 56 starts, and has averaged 42.2 percent from the field and 35 percent from long-range.
Miskovic:
• Tamara Miskovic recently just played in her 101st game on Thursday, and made her 24th start as a Golden Griffin.
• The two-time MAAC All-Academic Team member is poised to repeat that feat in 2016-17.
• Miskovic has scored 224 points in her career, and averages 2.2 points per game.
• The primary assist-leader for the Griffs this season has dished out 274 assists in her career, and is averaging 3.1 assists in her seiner campaign.
• Miskovic is a 33.3 percent shooter from the floor and is averaging 2.4 boards per game.
Weber:
• Emily Weber has proved to be one of the most tenacious Griffs ever to play for the program, as she has battled through multiple injuries, and in her senior year, personal tragedy with the loss of her mother to cancer.
• Weber sat out the entire 2015-16 campaign in order to play again in 2016-17, and has done just that, playing in eight game so far in her senior campaign.
• Despite scoring a season-best six points against Northeastern to open the season, Weber suffered a foot injury midway through the year and recently returned to action on the team’s Play4Kay game against Saint Peter’s on Thursday.
• Weber enters the game having scored 340 points, and averaged 5.7 points per game, to go along with a 1.8 boards per game average.
• The senior is also a 36.2 percent shooter from the floor, including a 35.6 percent shooter from 3-point land.
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