BUFFALO, N.Y. - Colgate finished its non-conference slate of games with a 66-47 win over Canisius at Koessler Athletic Center on Sunday afternoon. 

Sophia Diehl scored a season-high 21 points as the Raiders won their 10th game of the season, improving to 10-3 headed to Patriot League play.

COACH ADEDUNTAN'S COMMENTS

"I felt like we were playing well in the first five minutes of both quarters defensively and we didn't string together a full quarter. We did that in the third quarter. It was more about being able to defend the way we want with our game plan and the execution of it and then finishing the play. I thought we were really aggressive, Christina Midgette set the tone for us in the way we were trying to defend and force Canisius to speed up offensively.

[On heading into Patriot League play] I hope what you see is we just keep getting better. That is our mentality, that is our focus, that is what we pride ourselves on. We have built this program with the mentality that every single day we are not going to be content with where we are. We are always going to be hungry for what is in front of us. I am excited and proud of where this program currently is, the players have all bought in to what we are trying to accomplish, but we want more. In order to get more we have to keep getting better."

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a quick Canisius start the Raiders responded with a 12-2 run capped off by a Ella Meabon hoop and harm for the old-fashioned three-point play.
• Anne Bair scored four straight Raider points before the Griffins answered with a seven-point surge to cut the deficit to 16-15.
• Sophia Diehl drilled a triple to end the Canisius run and helped Colgate take a 21-17 lead into the second quarter.
• The Raiders defense prevented the Griffins from scoring for just under five minutes at the start of the second quarter. Colgate went on a 7-0 run finished off by Bair who picked up a steal on the defensive end and drilled a triple moments later.
• Canisius used a 9-0 run towards the end of the first half to get back to within two points.
• Lara Cook hit a 3-pointer late in the first half to help give the Raiders a 36-30 lead at the halftime break.
• Colgate came out of the locker room on fire, the Raiders scored ten unanswered points and forced a Griffins timeout. Christina Midgette forced a turnover that fell to Bair before Midgette grabbed a tough board down low which was eventually converted into a layup.
• The Raiders took a 51-35 lead into the final frame.
• Diehl scored two quick layups before drilling two 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter and Colgate took its largest lead of the day, 64-37.
• Canisius continued to battle, as they finished the game on a 10-2 run, but the Raiders prevailed 66-47.

GAME NOTES

• After finishing 10-3 in non-conference play, this is the first time in Colgate's Division I history the team has hit double-digit wins during non-conference play. 
• The Raiders defense held the Griffins to just five points in the third quarter.
• Sophia Diehl finished career-high 3-pointers hitting five triples against Canisius. The senior set a new season high mark in points finishing with 21 and shot 8-for-12 from the floor.
• Morgan McMahon led the Raiders in assists finishing with six, tying her career high.
• Colgate extends its win streak to four games, the Raiders defense has held opponents to under 50 points in three of their last four games.

UP NEXT
The Raiders (10-3) begin their Patriot League action on Thursday as they head to West Point to take on the Army Black Knights. Tip is set for 6 p.m.