Graduate student guard Vannessa Garrelts scored a career-high 22 points while freshman forward Sisi Eleko finished the day with a 14 points and a career-high nine boards as the Canisius defeated Rider, 74-67, Saturday in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball action at the Koessler Athletic Center.
The Golden Griffins (4-6, 1-0 MAAC) were led by Garrelts who along with her 22 points added in five assists and eight rebounds. Garrelts and Eleko were joined in double figures as junior guard Dani Haskell notched 10 points while and freshman forward Adrien LaMora pitched in 11. Haskell also recorded eight boards, five assists and tallied the lone block for Canisius in the victory.
As for the Broncs (3-7, 0-1 MAAC), they were led by Makayla Firebaugh who finished with a game-high 23 points. Rephaela Toussaint was the other Rider player to finish in double figures as she added 13 points of her own. Amanda Mobley dished out a game-high 12 assists while Victoria Toomey and Firebaugh were tied for the Bronc lead in rebounds with six boards each.
The Griffs were hot off the opening tip, erupting for a 13-8 run during the first four minutes of the contest. Leading the charge was senior Jane McCauley with six points, both off 3-pointers, and four points Eleko. The Broncs would take control for the remaining six minutes of the quarter, finishing the frame on an 18-6 stretch to hold a 23-19 edge after ten minutes of action.
After a basket by Rider forward Sofie Bruintjes knotted the game at 29-all, the Griffs attacked the Broncs from the free-throw line, going 5-of-6 from the charity stripe while tacking on baskets from Eleko and Garrelts to hold a 39-34 advantage at the end of first half.
Neither Canisius or Rider could gain a sizable advantage in the third quarter with the Broncs shooting 5-of-13 (.385) from the floor, just slightly better than Canisius, who went 6-of-16 (.375) from the field during the frame. Even with a late basket by Rider’s Amanda Mobley, an earlier 3-pointer by sophomore guard Athina Lexa allowed the Griffs to hold a slim 53-49 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Up by as much as five early in the fourth, the Griffs could not stymie a 13-9 Rider spurt over the opening 5:39 of the quarter that allowed the Bronce to tie the game, 62-62, with 4:21 remaining. Garrelts knocked down two free-throws with exactly four minutes to go to give the Blue and Gold a slight 64-62 advantage, a lead that they would hold the rest of the way as back-to-back makes by Haskell, as well as a 5-of-6 effort from the charity stripe, allowed Canisius to lock up the 74-67 victory.
Game Notes:
- This is the first time since the 2018-19 season that Canisius won its opening game of conference play. The 2018-19 edition of the Griffs took down Manhattan, 47-44, on Jan. 3, 2019 to begin league play 1-0.
- Eleko made her second start of the seaosn and first since Nov. 13 against Detroit Mercy on Saturday.
- Each team shot below 50% from the field with the Griffs finishing the day 25-of-54 (.463) from the floor while the Broncs went 25-of-59 (.424).
- Garrelts went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. The Spring Grove, Ill., native was the only player on either team to not miss a shot from the line.
- The Griffs’ 39 points in the first half were the second most points they have scored during the opening half this season. The Blue and Gold notched a season-high 42 first half points against St. Bonaventure on Dec. 7.
- The Griffs were nearly perfect on the free-throw line, going 15-of-17 (.882). It is the first time this season that Canisius finished the game shooting 88% or better from the charity stripe.
Up Next
Canisius hosts Marist Monday in a 1 p.m. contest at the Koessler Athletic Center. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
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