Women’s Basketball opens season 2–0 after America East–Metro Challenge
By Mykah Moreland, Sports Reporter
Canisius women’s basketball defeated UMass Lowell in their home opener to cap off their America East–Metro Challenge games. The Golden Griffins beat the River Hawks 73–61, marking the program’s first time opening a season with back–to–back wins since the 2005–2006 season and the fourth time in 35 years.
The Lady Griffs, following their first win in the America East–Metro Challenge against New Hampshire on Nov. 5, came home ready to get buckets; shooting 49% from the field and 79% from the foul line. While adding 34 points in the paint alone and creating 30 turnovers, the Griffs defended home court on both sides of the ball, capitalizing off their lockdown defense with 32 points off turnovers. This defensive showcase was attestment to the teams depth. With 14 of the 15 players touching the court on Sunday, Head Coach Tiffany Swoffard kept the intensity up, frequently subbing in fresh legs.
While the Griffs’ defense stoked their offense, the offense was led by junior guard Sofia Vitucci who notched a game–high of 26 points, making nine of her 15 shots from the field. Vitucci's performance is the most points scored by a Griff since Shariah Gailes’ 28 against Mercyhurst last November. Vitucci complimented her scoring efforts with two steals and an assist, all in 30 minutes. Gailes added an additional nine points and five rebounds, shooting a perfect five for five at the charity stripe.
Freshman forward Aubree Hupp led the game in rebounds with seven boards, five of which were offensive. The freshman also had 12 points and four steals. In the two–game stint, she has become the team’s leader in rebounds and assists so far this season. Hupp hustled across all 94 feet, making an impact on offense and defense and earning herself Metro Conference Rookie of the Week honors.
The game started with a UMass Lowell lead, which carried to the end of the first quarter with a score of 15–12, but it was the last time the River Hawks would have a lead. Led by freshman Kayla Solomon who scored 18 points and senior Maddie Rice who had nine, the River Hawks was held to just 12 points in the 2nd quarter as the Griffs took a nine–point lead, including a 9–0 run over the final minutes of the second quarter.
Though the Griffs’ lead was cut to three in the third, the Blue and Gold answered with a 7–2 run, where Vittuci scored five of the seven points. With just under two minutes remaining in the third frame, Canisius held their largest lead of the game, leading by 14 with 51 to UMass Lowell’s 37. Canisius went hundred percent from the foul line in the fourth, closing out the home opener and cementing their 2–0 start to the 2026–2027 campaign.
The Lady Griffs will return to the court this weekend, traveling to Ithaca, N.Y. to face Cornell on Friday, Nov. 13 before heading to Syracuse, N.Y. to play the Orange on Sunday, Nov. 15.
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