Women’s basketball (0-1, 0-0 MAC) dropped its first game of the season to the Canisius Golden Griffins (1-0, 0-0 MAAC), 57-55, in Becky Burke’s UB head-coaching debut.
The loss marks the first time Canisius’ women’s team has beaten UB in 10 years. UB won the past nine meetings by an average of 24 points, including a 60-point victory last season. The Bulls entered the fourth quarter with an eight-point lead but couldn’t hang on, as the Golden Griffins outscored UB by 10 points in the final period to secure the victory.
With UB down by one point late in the fourth quarter, fifth-year guard Zakiyah Winfiled missed a pair of free throws with 2.5 seconds to go. The misses spelled the end for the Bulls, who shot 14-for-24 from the free-throw line for the game.
UB led through three quarters after a strong third quarter which saw the Bulls outscore Canisius 19-9. But a fourth-quarter collapse resulted in UB’s unprecedented fall to its Big 4 rival.
Winfield led the way for the Bulls with 16 points as well as 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Senior guard Re’Shawna Stone (eight points and eight rebounds) and fifth-year forward Latrice Perkins (eight points and six rebounds) rounded out the Bulls’ scoring attack in their UB debuts. Winfield was also the only Bull to score double digit points against the Griffins.
Canisius had two players score in double figures, including junior guard Dani Haskell, who scored 17 points in 37 minutes of action. Freshman forward Sisi Eleko scored 10 points for the Grifs.
UB will look to bounce back on the road when the Bulls travel to Merkert Gymnasium in Easton, Massachusetts to take on the Stonehill Skyhawks (0-1, 0-0 NE). Tip-off is set for Monday at 6:00 p.m. . The game can be streamed on ESPN+.
The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
