Feb. 8, 2008
Final Stats
Buffalo, N.Y. - The Siena women's basketball team overcame a seven point deficit with 1:03 remaining in regulation to force overtime before pulling out a key 77-74 win over Canisius this evening in Buffalo. The win snapped a four game losing streak for the Saints (8-14, 4-8) and was their first overtime triumph in four years.
"Tonight was a remarkable comeback for our team," noted head coach Gina Castelli. "I thought the girls really came together especially late in the game and it says a lot about the character of this team."
The Green and Gold came out firing, hitting their first seven shots of the game en route to an early 15-8 advantage. The Saints would extend their lead to as many as nine (19-10) on a Melissa Manzer jumper from the right wing with 11:42 remaining, marking Siena's biggest lead of the game.
Canisius (10-13, 5-7) fought there way back with a 10-0 run over the next seven minutes to claim their first lead of the half, 20-19.
Entering intermission, the Saints regrouped and carried a slim 26-24 advantage.
The Golden Griffins, who lead the league making nearly seven threes per game, connected on six of their nine attempts from behind the arc to begin the second half, opening a 53-44 lead at the 6:31 mark.
Laura Buetow pushed the Canisius lead to seven with 1:03 remaining after corralling one of the Griffs 21 offensive rebounds on the night and knocking down the put back. Canisius continued to hold onto the lead and with 47 seconds remaining, harbored a 64-59 advantage. However, Brittane Russell would miss a second free throw attempt, leading to a Shondaya Burrell fast break lay in with 42 seconds remaining. Burrell finished with her third double-double of the season, posting 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five assists.
After a J.J. Williams turnover on the ensuing inbounds pass, Manzer nailed a jumper to bring Siena within one with 38 seconds left.
The Saints however would find themselves down two in the final seconds. Following a Burrell missed jumper, Manzer corralled the offensive rebound and sunk a fade away jumper to even the score at 67 and send the game to overtime.
In the extra session, the Saints led for the majority of the period and following two clutch Manzer free throws with four seconds remaining were able to seal the 77-74 win.
The overtime victory was the Saints' first in four seasons and snapped an eight game overtime losing streak since a 63-53 triumph at Saint Peter's on Jan. 13, 2005. Laura Menty led the Saints, posting 24 points, while Manzer added 21. Serena Moore provided key minutes off the bench, leading Siena's second unit with a career high eight points to go along with five rebounds.
Canisius placed all five starters in double figures, paced by Russell's 17 point, four assist performance. The Griffs won the battle of the boards (47-40) but it was the Saints who dominated the low blocks, holding a 36-22 points in the paint advantage, while tallying a season high eight blocks on the defensive end.
The Saints will return to action on Sunday afternoon when they head to Niagara. Tip time is slated for 2 p.m.
