BUFFALO, N.Y. (Interstat) — Shariah Gailes scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds Sunday to lead the Canisius Golden Griffins to their first victory of the season, a 75-67 win over the winless Mercyhurst Lakers in a non-conference women’s basketball game at Koessler Athletic Center.

The Golden Griffins, who improved to 1-7, used a dominant shooting performance to secure the victory. Canisius shot 54.9 percent from the floor, connecting on 28 of 51 attempts, while Mercyhurst struggled offensively, making just 21 of 68 shots for a 30.9 percent clip.

Despite the loss, Mercyhurst’s Cici Hernandez came off the bench to provide a spark, leading the Lakers with 20 points. Lena Walz added 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Mercyhurst, which fell to 0-6.

The game was a tale of contrasting offensive efficiencies. Canisius scored its 75 points on 74 possessions, while Mercyhurst needed 78 possessions to reach its total of 67. The Golden Griffins compensated for a significant disadvantage in ball security by making their shots count. Canisius committed 22 turnovers, leading to 15 steals for the Lakers. Mercyhurst, by contrast, turned the ball over only 11 times.

Canisius built its lead by controlling the paint and capitalizing on high-percentage looks. In addition to Gailes’ efficient scoring, Franka Wittenberg filled the stat sheet for the Golden Griffins with nine points, seven rebounds and five assists. Corniya Clay contributed 14 points and Irene Rey Pineda added 12.

Mercyhurst relied heavily on the three-point shot but could not find a consistent rhythm, making only 10 of 38 attempts from beyond the arc. The Lakers did hold a 15-5 advantage in assists and matched their season-high for steals, but their offensive struggles from the field proved too much to overcome.

Jenna Van Schaik played a team-high 38 minutes for Mercyhurst, finishing with 11 points and three assists. Gabby Sweeney added nine points and six rebounds for the Lakers.

The victory provides a positive note for Canisius as it navigates a challenging early-season schedule. The Golden Griffins are scheduled to host Wright State on Friday, Dec. 12. Mercyhurst will look to break into the win column when it returns home to host Robert Morris on Wednesday, Dec. 3.