Canisius Men, Women Look For Success in 2013-14
MAAC Sports
Canisius Men Look To Build On Last Year’s Success
The Canisius College men’s basketball team will look to continue the progress it made last year when it won 20 games, enjoyed one of the nation’s top turnaround seasons (+15 games), and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the College Insider’s Tournament. The Golden Griffins were picked to third in the MAAC in this year’s preseason poll.
Although the Golden Griffins lost some scoring punch in the backcourt with the graduation of Harold Washington (13.8) and Issac Sosa (11.6), Coach Jim Baron returns a solid nucleus led by guard Billy Baron, the MAAC’s preseason Player of the Year, who averaged 17.2 points and 5.0 assists per game. Also returning is 6-6, 235-pound forward Chris Manhertz, a preseason All-MAAC third team choice who averaged 7.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, and 6-10, 240-pound forward Jordan Heath, who averaged 9.2 points and 5.9 rebounds. Canisius is expected to receive a lift from 6-3 guard Chris Perez, a transfer from Stetson, where he started for two years and averaged 15.1 points last season.
Canisius will appear on four games on the ESPN networks as part of the MAAC’s television package, including at Iona on Jan. 17, Manhattan on Feb. 7, at Niagara on Feb. 14, and at Manhattan on March 2. The Golden Griffins will also appear on ESPN3 in the first round matchup of the NIT Season Tip-Off at Rutgers on Nov. 18., and at Notre Dame on Dec. 29.
Canisius Women Look To Veteran Leadership
The Canisius College women’s basketball team will look to upperclass leadership in the 2013-14 season. The Golden Griffins finished seventh in the MAAC with an 8-10 league mark and 12-19 overall in 2012-13, after being picked sixth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Despite losing an All-MAAC First Team selection in Ashley Durham, the Golden Griffins return veteran leadership in preseason All-MAAC Third Team selection, Jamie Ruttle. Ruttle was the team’s second leading scorer behind Durham, averaging 8.8 points per game, while also grabbing 4.7 rebounds per contest. Also returning for the Golden Griffins are senior guard Jen Morabito, junior guard Kayla Hoohuli, and sophomore Tiahana Mills. Morabito averaged 5.5 points per game last season while shooting 37.9% from behind the arc, placing her second in program history for career three-point field goal percentage. The 5-7 guard Hoohuli made a team high 28 starts in 2012-13 while also contributing 6.8 points per game and hitting 45 three-pointers on the season. Mills, an All-Rookie last year, was tenth in the MAAC with 2.6 assists per contest, and led the Golden Griffins and all MAAC freshman with 72 total assists on the season.
Canisius opens the 2013-14 season on Friday, Nov 8 at home against the University of Detroit. The Golden Griffins will appear on two games on the ESPN networks as part of the MAAC’s television package, including Feb. 7 when they host cross-town rival Niagara in the “Battle of the Bridge” and on Feb. 20 when they travel to Saint Peter’s.