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Sisi Eleko goes for a layup against Iona on Jan. 25, 2024
Max Sacco
53
Winner Canisius Canis 11-7,6-3 MAAC
43
Iona Iona 7-10,2-6 MAAC
Winner
Canisius Canis
11-7,6-3 MAAC
53
Final
43
Iona Iona
7-10,2-6 MAAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Canisius Canis 10 16 16 11 53
Iona Iona 12 11 10 10 43

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women's Basketball Uses Strong Defense to Thwart Iona

Canisius limited Iona to just 18-of-57 (.316) shooting for the contest to record a 53-43 victory in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women's basketball action Thursday at the Hynes Athletics Center in New Rochelle, N.Y.
 
The Golden Griffins improved to 11-7 overall and 6-3 in MAAC play with the win while the Gaels fell to 7-10 and 2-6 in conference action.
 
Sophomore Sisi Eleko led the way with her MAAC-leading 13th double-double of the season, totaling 13 points and 17 rebounds. Graduate students Bri Rozzi and Grace Heeps chipped in eight points each in the winning effort. Rozzi and senior Mackenzie Amalia led Canisius with three assists each while junior Athina Lexa totaled a season-high three steals.
 
Sierra DeAngelo paced the Gaels with 15 points while Ella Fajado and Judith Gomez chipped in 14 and 11 points, respectively. DeAngelo also guided Iona on the glass with a team-high seven rebounds while Fajado chipped in five assists.
 
Trailing 12-10 at the end of the first quarter, the Griffs offense found their rhythm at the beginning of the second stanza as they opened the frame on a 9-0 run to grab a 19-12 lead and force an Iona timeout.  
Iona responded to the Canisius surge later in the frame, closing the half on a 9-2 run to trim the Griffs lead to three at the break, 26-23. 
 
Caught in a low-scoring affair for most of the third quarter, the Griffs offense created some breathing room at the end of the frame, going on a 7-2 spurt over the final 3:50 that was ignited by New Rochelle native Jane McCauley to enter the fourth quarter ahead, 42-33.
 
The Griffs defense sealed the game in the fourth quarter, holding Iona to just two points over the opening 5:41 to expand their lead to 13, 48-35. Even with a late push from the Gaels, the Griffs closed the game by going 4-of-5 from the charity stripe in the final minute to close out the win.   
POSTGAME COMMENTS GAME NOTES
• Canisius is now 29-40 all-time against Iona and picked up its 14th win against the Gaels in New Rochelle, N.Y.
• Eleko totaled double-digit rebounds for the 12th time this season and finished in double-figures in scoring for the 15th time this year.
• The Griffs are now 6-3 against schools based in New York State this season.
• Canisius held an opponent to 10-or-fewer points in a quarter for the fourth straight game. Iona was limited to just 10 points in the fourth quarter.
• Canisius shot just 3-of-18 (.167) from deep, compared to just 4-of-27 (.148) from Iona. It is the first time the Griffs have won a game when making less 3-pointers than an opponent under head coach Sahar Nusseibeh.
• The Griffs limited Iona's trips to the free-throw line with the Gaels only shooting a total of four free throws on Thursday.
 
UP NEXT
Canisius returns to action on Saturday when it faces Fairfield in a 2 p.m. matinee at Leo D. Mahoney Arena in Fairfield, Conn. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
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