HAMDEN, Conn. — Canisius women’s basketball will take on Quinnipiac at 2 p.m. Saturday at TD Bank Sports Complex.
The Blue and Gold head into the homestretch of the season, as the Canisius women’s basketball team heads for its final game of the year, traveling Hamden, Conn., to face Quinnipiac. The final game of the season sets up a contest that could effect seeding implications at the upcoming MAAC tournament. In its second-to-last road contest the Griffs struggled from the field, shooting just 29 percent for the game, despite out-rebounding Fairfield and winning the turnover battle. Maria Welch led the Griffs with a season-high 17 points, as she hit 6-of-13 from the field including a trio of treys.Sara Hinriksdottir, battled through an inefficient first half to finish the game with 11 points and nine rebounds, nearing the double-double. It was her 25 game of double-digits, in 28 tries.
On the season overall, Hinriksdottir is Leading the team offensively, and averages 15.3 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per contest. She also shoots near 50 percent with a mark of 47.2 percent from the field. D’Hont is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.2 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 9.3 per contest. The long-range specialist is shooting 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. The Blue and Gold is averaging 59.3 points per game, while opponents are tallying 64.4 points per contest. As a team the Griffs are averaging 32.1 rebounds per game, while opponents are bringing down 37.8 for a -5.6 rebounding margin. Turnovers have also been an area of concern for the Blue and Gold as the team averages 15.8, while foes average 14.0, for a margin of -1.8.
The Bobcats enter the final game with a 23-6 record and a 16-3 MAAC mark. Currently armed with a half-game lead over the Broncs (15-3 MAAC), Quinnipiac (16-3 MAAC) needs to win their regular season finale on Saturday against the Golden Griffins to seal the No. 1 seed in the 2017 MAAC Tournament. Saturday’s regular season finale also serves as the Bobcats’ Senior Day for the Class of 2017 – Brianah Ramos, Morgan Manz and Adily Martucci. Quinnipiac’s defense has led the MAAC all season as the Bobcats are currently allowing 56.2 points per game (24th-best mark in the nation). If that average were to stand through the end of the season, that would signal a new program record for fewest points allowed per game in a single-season. Quinnipiac’s 76-60 win over Siena (2/12) clinched yet another 20-win campaign for Head Coach Tricia Fabbri. The 11th 20-win season in program history made it six in-a-row as well as the eighth in Fabbri’s 22-year coaching career at Quinnipiac.
The series history between the Bobcats and Griffs is a relatively short one, with Quinnipiac having won all eight meetings between the two squads. All eight contests have come from 2013 to 2017. Quinnipiac holds a 3-0 record at home, 4-0 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 0-8 against the Bobcats.
Sara Hinriksdottir has been far and away the Griffs best player all season and the most consistent. Through 28 games, the Keflavik Iceland, native has hit double-digit points in 25 games. Now that she has recorded 25 double-digit games she ties Brittnae Russel, who hit 25 10-or-more contests in 2009-10. If she scores 10-or-better against Quinnipiac she will set the new best mark since Marie Warner recorded 29 double-figure contests during the 2007-08 season, nine seasons ago.
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 against the Peacocks, 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 multiple times. 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.
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