Yasmine Djibril delivered an outstanding performance for Canisius, scoring a career-high 16 points, but it was not enough as Marist claimed a narrow 60-53 victory in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) women’s basketball on Thursday night at McCann Arena in Poughkeepsie, New York.
With this win, Marist improved to an overall record of 8-14 and 5-7 in the MAAC, securing their sixth victory on home soil. In contrast, Canisius dropped to 3-17 overall and 1-10 in conference play, facing their fourth consecutive loss.
For the Red Foxes, Danielle Williamson led the way with 15 points, while Justine Henry added 14. The team shot 38.3% (23-for-60) from the field and 29.2% (5-for-17) from three-point range, with Ciara Crocker grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. Irene Rey Pineda contributed nine points for Canisius, and junior Shariah Gailes recorded a game-best nine rebounds as the Golden Griffins dominated the glass 46-32 and outscored Marist in the paint 32-24. However, Canisius struggled offensively, shooting just 33.3% (19-for-57) from the field and a mere 20.0% (3-for-15) from beyond the arc.
The game saw Marist take an early lead, finishing the first quarter ahead 10-9. They took control in the second quarter, initiating a decisive 21-2 run that pushed their lead to 34-18 at halftime. Five different players contributed to this scoring spree, with Williamson and Henry each netting six points during the run.
Marist extended their lead at the start of the fourth quarter with a 14-5 run, establishing an 11-point margin. Nonetheless, Canisius showed resilience as Gailes’ free throws sparked a 7-2 run, closing the gap to 55-49 with just over two minutes left. In the final moments, Marist sealed the game with effective free-throw shooting, going 3-for-4 from the line.
The matchup marked the 69th encounter between Canisius and Marist, with the last two games being decided by fewer than ten points. Notably, Marist capitalized on Canisius’ 23 turnovers, converting them into 21 points. Canisius’ bench made a significant impact, contributing 20 points and highlighting their depth this season.
Looking ahead, Canisius will conclude its two-game road trip with a match against Siena in the capital region on Saturday. The game at the UHY Center is scheduled for a 2 p.m. tip-off and will be available for streaming on ESPN+. For fans wishing to attend, tickets for all Canisius home women’s basketball games can be purchased online or by contacting the ticket office.