This week in college basketball
Warner adds much to Griffs
When coach Terry Zeh hung up the phone he was sure that Marie Warner would decide not to transfer to Canisius College.
Zeh was forceful in his conversations with Warner, who at the time had her release from Utah and was looking to transfer closer to her native Hamilton, Ont.
“I wanted to make sure she was doing this for the right reasons and I yelled at her a few times,” Zeh said. “Obviously it worked out.”
Warner is one of the prime players for the Canisius women’s team this season as the Golden Griffins are riding a nine-game win streak.
The team is 12-4 overall and 4-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, hosting Fairfield at 7 p. m., Friday and Manhattan at 2 p. m. Sunday.
Warner leads the team in scoring (16.5 points per game) and rebounding (6.9 per game). She has scored in double figures 14 times this season and led the team in scoring 12 times.
She spent three years at Utah where she averaged 7.9 points and 2.4 rebounds per game in 32 contests in 2006-07.
But with one year of eligibility left, she wanted to move back home and be closer to family and friends.
“It was the hardest decision I had to make,” Warner said. “But it turned out to be the best decision. I love it. From the time I took my visit here, I loved the team, I loved the girls and I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of. I had to talk to coach a lot about why I wanted to come here and really sell myself. But I understood that he was taking a risk on me for one year.”
Warner sat out last season per NCAA transfer rules. She was allowed to practice with the team and immediately Zeh and his coaching staff knew they were getting a talented player.
And this year, in game situations, she’s lived up to her billing.
“I think she’s gotten more comfortable and we’ve really pressed her a bit in practice because as good as she is, we think she can be better,” Zeh said. “And it’s easy for someone talented to rely on that talent and not want to get pushed, but she does and she’s responded well.
“She has all three offensive weapons — she can shoot the three, she can take the pull-up jumper off the dribble better than anyone in our league and she can score in the post because she’s athletic and strong. There are very few people in our league who can do all those things well and that makes her a tough matchup.”
This Week’s Games
Buffalo men: The Bulls look for their first Mid-American Conference win of the season at Akron at 7 p. m. tonight then host Ohio at 4 p. m., Saturday.
Buffalo women: At 4-11 overall, the Bulls hope to stop an eight-game losing skid, hosting Kent State at 7 p. m. Wednesday and Miami (Ohio) at 2 p. m. Saturday.
Canisius men: The Griffs have lost four straight and are 0-6 in the MAAC. They host Rider at 7:30 Thursday (TWC13) and Iona at 2 p. m. Saturday.
Canisius women: The Griffs host Fairfield at 7 p. m. Friday and Manhattan at 2 p. m. Sunday.
Niagara men: The Purple Eagles look to rebound from their first MAAC loss when they host Iona at 7 p. m. Thursday and Rider at 4 p. m. Saturday.
Niagara women: At just 1-15 overall and 0-5 in the MAAC, they host Manhattan at 7 p. m. Friday and Fairfield at 1 p. m. Sunday.
St. Bonaventure men: Host Saint Joseph’s at 7 p. m. Wednesday then travel to Richmond on Saturday (7 p. m.)
St. Bonaventure women: At 12-4 overall and 1-0 in the Atlantic 10, the Bonnies host Massachusetts at 1 p. m. Saturday.
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