Women’s basketball searching for first win entering Little Three rivalry

By: Maggie Tifft, Assistant Sports Editor

The Lady Griffs remain winless through three games, looking to put together a full 60 minutes and snag their first win of the season.

The team’s home opener against former Griffs’ Head Coach Sahar Nusseibeh and the Eastern Michigan Eagles resulted in a 70–39 loss, highlighting the team’s need for better offensive play. Following the home opener, the Griffs traveled to Syracuse to face the Orange on Tuesday night, and Head Coach Tiffany Swoffard applauded her team’s improvement on the offensive side of the ball.

“I’m super proud of our team, especially with the way we opened our season. We challenged them to bounce back in games, focus on what works for us, and they did that,” said Coach Swoffard after Tuesday’s 96–72 loss at the JMA Wireless Dome. Swoffard also acknowledged how the team looked more in sync offensively than in the past two games, and how the fluidity and intention of their play allowed for their highest score of the season.

It was junior Shariah Gailes who led the way with 22 points, tying her career high she set back at the University of Indianapolis. Those points, combined with the 11 she notched back on Nov. 7 against Eastern Michigan, puts her at first on the team for points this season with 37. Taking on a new role was senior Franka Wittenberg, who led the court with 10 rebounds on Tuesday. She currently sits in third for points with 22 through three games.

While the team remains winless, these powerhouse nonleague games are just what Coach Swoffard believes will prepare the team for the high level of difficulty the MAAC conference brings. And with an emphasis on looking to win in November rather than January, “It is incredibly important for us to prepare our team for what we will see [in conference]...I’m excited to see how we continue to grow. That's always the goal for us to focus on our growth and what we can control. And they did that,” said Coach Swoffard.

The team is back on the road for a Little Three matchup against St. Bonaventure, where the aim is to build off the offensive success the team had against Syracuse, whilst limiting the turnovers and giving their defense a moment to breathe. The Bonnies currently sit undefeated at 3–0, averaging just under 75 points per game, while the Griffs currently average just over 50 points per game, with two of their games being against powerhouse schools. The Bonnies' efficient offense will test the Griffs’ ability to maintain possession as they average 31.3 turnovers a game, with opponents averaging 40 points off turnovers per game.

Friday’s contest in Olean, N.Y. is set to tipoff at 6 p.m. on Nov. 14. Following the rivalry game, the Griffs will be back at the Koessler Athletic Center Sunday, Nov. 16 for a contest against Cornell University with tipoff set for noon.

Shariah Gailes driving to the lane.