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Canisius University Athletics

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The Canisius women's basketball team huddles after a basket
Max Sacco
63
Canisius Canis 9-6,4-2 MAAC
76
Winner Rider Rider 5-9,2-3 MAAC
Canisius Canis
9-6,4-2 MAAC
63
Final
76
Rider Rider
5-9,2-3 MAAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Canisius Canis 12 24 11 16 63
Rider Rider 13 24 19 20 76

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women's Basketball Falls Short at Rider

Rider used a third-quarter surge to defeat the Canisius women's basketball team, 76-63, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Alumni Gymnasium in Lawrenceville, N.J.
 
The Broncs moved to 5-9 and 2-3 in MAAC play, while the Golden Griffins slipped to 9-6 overall and 4-2 in conference action.
 
Canisius sophomore Sisi Eleko led the way for the Griffs with her MAAC-leading ninth double-double of the season after she scored 20 points to go with 10 rebounds. Junior Athina Lexa and graduate student Bri Rozzi added in 14 and 10 points, respectively, in the losing cause. Senior Mackenzie Amalia was credited with a team-high four assists and five steals on the day.
 
Mackenzie Firebaugh paced the Broncs with 20 points in the win. Jessika Schiffer poured in a season-high 16 points, while Kaylan Deevey (14 points) and Taylor Langan (11 points) posted double-digits in the scoring column as well. Firebaugh and Lanagan each had six rebounds for the home team, while Firebaugh also earned five steals in the winning effort.
 
After a close first quarter which saw Rider hold a 13-12 lead thanks to a late basket from Langan, the Broncs continued their offensive success with a 7-3 run over the opening 2:35 of the second quarter to expand their lead to five points at 20-15.
 
The Griffs responded, answering with their own 9-4 run to knot the score at 24-24 with 5:42 left before halftime. The two sides would exchange scores for the remainder of the frame, but a four-point swing from Firebaugh with under 2:00 left to play in the second stanza would outweigh two late free-throws by Eleko to send the Broncs into the locker room holding a 37-36 lead at the half.  
 
Rider stayed hot to begin the second half, using an 18-7 run for the bulk of the third quarter to take a 55-43 lead with 3:16 left in the frame. The Griffs chipped away at the Rider lead, using a pair of late free-throws, to make the score 56-47 in favor of the Broncs entering the fourth quarter.
 
Rider sealed the win in the fourth quarter, limiting Canisius to just 2-of-13 shooting from the floor, while making 5-of-10 chances from the field. For the game, Rider shot 55.3 percent from the field while making 8-of-16 shots from behind the 3-point arc.
 
 
POSTGAME COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH SAHAR NUSSEIBEH:  
 
GAME NOTES:
• Saturday marked the 53rd all-time meeting between the two MAAC rivals. Canisius leads the series, 34-19, and holds a 16-11 advantage on the road.
• Canisius and Rider each made eight 3-point field goals on the day. It was the first time this season and only fifth time under Nusseibeh where the Griffs tied an opponent in 3-point makes for a game.
• Canisius allowed 70-or-more points to an opponent for the first time since Nov. 26 at Illinois.
• Eleko has recorded consecutive double-doubles for the third time this season, and first time since a stretch of two straight against Marist (Dec. 18) and Youngstown State (Dec. 21). She is the only player in the MAAC currently averaging a double-double for the year.
• Rozzi extended her streak of scoring in double-figures to three straight.
• Amalia is the first Griff to have five steals in a game since Vannessa Garrelts had five steals at Marist on Feb. 11, 2023.

UP NEXT:
Canisius will return home for a pair of MAAC games at the Koessler Athletic Center, starting on Thursday, Jan. 18, when the Griffs play host to Quinnipiac. Game time is set for 6 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
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