Box Score BUFFALO, N.Y. – A late layup from Canisius pushes the Golden Griffins to a 48-47 win against Saint Peter's in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play on Sunday.
Aziza May (South Euclid, Ohio/Charles F. Brush) paced the Peacocks with 12 points. Hala Mostafa (Cairo, Egypt/Modern Narmer Language School), Antonia Smith (Bronx, N.Y./Dwight School) and Kaydine Bent (Bronx, N.Y./Harry S. Truman) finished with 10 points each for Saint Peter's.
The Peacocks opened up the first half hitting its first two field goals to take a 4-0 lead. Canisius responded with a 6-0 run, capped off by a layup from Tiahana Mills to take a 6-4 advantage.
Saint Peter's would retake the lead, following a 3-ball from May. The Golden Griffins countered with five straight points to lead 11-7. The Peacocks responded with two field goals from May and Antonia Smith to knot the game at 11.
Following a Canisius miss, Mostafa would hit a 3-point basket to give the Peacocks a 14-11 advantage. After a Golden Griffins timeout, Jen Morabito knocked down a trey to tie the game at 14. Each team would trade baskets to keep the game tied at 16.
Canisius ended the first half with four straight points from Hoohuli to take a 20-16 advantage heading into the locker room.
In the second half, Canisius opened up with 3-ball from Morabito to give the Golden Griffins a 23-16 lead. The Peacocks answered with six straight points cut the deficit to one.
The Golden Griffins countered with five straight points to maintain a 28-22 lead. Four made free throws from Bent cut the Peacocks' deficit to one possession. Canisius countered with a layup from Jen Lennox to keep a 30-26 lead. Saint Peter's answered with a layup from Neechelle Ingram (Pocono Summit, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) to cut the deficit to two.
Both teams exchanged baskets to keep the game within a field goal. One of two free throws from Marcia Senatus (Roselle, N.J./Trenton Catholic) cut the deficit to one point. A pair of free throws from Jamie Ruttle extended the Canisius lead, 34-31. Saint Peter's answered with a pair of free throws from Bent to bring the deficit within one point. Mostafa hit another 3-pointer give Saint Peter's a 36-34 lead. Canisius would answer with a layup to knot the game at 36.
Saint Peter's hit one of two from the line to go in front 37-36. The Golden Griffins countered with a 7-0 run, capped off a 3-ball from Hoohuli to take 43-37 lead. The Peacocks responded with five straight points to cut the deficit to one. The Golden Griffins answered with a 3-pointer from Ruttle to extend the lead to four. Two free throws from Smith cut the lead to two. Canisius countered with a field goal from Ruttle to keep a 48-44 lead.
With 28 seconds left, May hit the long 3-pointer cut the deficit to one. Following missed free throws from Canisius, the Peacocks had an opportunity at a game-winner but failed to convert, falling to the Golden Griffins, 48-47.
Kayla Hoohuli finished with a game-high 15 points for the Golden Griffs. Jen Lennox finished with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
With the loss, the Peacocks fall to 2-11 overall and 1-3 in conference play. Canisius improves to 5-9 overall and earns its first conference victory of the season.
Saint Peter's returns to action Jan. 9, when they travel to face in-state for Rider University.
