Playing in their third game in the past five days, the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team defeated the Canisius Golden Griffins 76-55 on Monday afternoon at the People’s United Center.

The Bobcats were in control from the opening tip, taking the lead less than four minutes into the game and not looking back. Junior forward Mikala Morris led the way for the Bobcats, scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double. Due to her energetic play style, Morris was also named as the MAAC Player of the Week for the past week.

“Our biggest goal today, we knew that the post was very undersized compared to us,” Morris said. “We were trying to work inside out and luckily today I was hot. If I was being double teamed, I would kick it out and they’d be there.”

Senior guard Mackenzie DeWees also played an important role for the Bobcats, scoring 19 points to go along with seven rebounds. DeWees had missed the last game while only playing two minutes the game prior due to injury and was a surprise addition to the lineup.

“If I were being completely honest, I didn’t think I was playing today,” DeWees said. “And at the last minute we got the ok, so I’m just grateful.”

DeWees wasn’t the only Bobcat to return to the lineup, however, as junior forward Cur’Tiera Haywood also came back after missing the past six games due to an injury.

As for the Golden Griffins, junior guard Shaunae Brown led the team with 14 points and four rebounds and freshman guard Cheyenne Stubbs added nine points and two steals.

In the first half alone, the Bobcats led by as many as 21 points and looked to push in transition every opportunity they had. They also used their noticeable size advantage inside to net 44 points in the paint by the end of the game.

Overall, the Bobcats played smothering defense and forced the Golden Griffins into some difficult looks. The Golden Griffins shot under 30% from the field and only went 7-30 from downtown. A big part of the defense was junior guard Sajada Bonner, who had the assignment of guarding Canisius leading scorer, sophomore guard Dani Haskell, who finished under her season average at 12 points.

“If you want to talk about a kid who’s going to be a glove for us and set the tone for us defensively, it’s her,” head coach Tricia Fabbri said. “Whether it’s in transition you’re going to see her find the ball and she’s going to get the best offensive assignment.”

Up next for the Bobcats, after a much needed four-day span with no games, is a rematch with the Iona Gaels on Saturday, Feb. 12 at the People’s United Center at 2 p.m. The Bobcats will look to get revenge from the last matchup, where the Gaels came out victorious.