NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in seasons will be on display Thursday when the Merrimack Warriors host the Canisius Golden Griffins in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball matchup at Volpe Athletic Center. The Warriors (16-11) enter the contest firmly in the upper tier of the conference, having won six of their last eight games. Their most recent outing was a 82-67 loss at Manhattan on Saturday, but prior to that, they secured key road wins at Sacred Heart and Marist. Forward Madison Roman has been a consistent force for Merrimack, averaging a double-double in her last five games, including a 22-point performance in the win at Sacred Heart on Feb. 19. Conversely, the Golden Griffins (5-22) have struggled throughout the season, though they are coming off a rare high note: a 68-63 overtime victory over Mount Saint Mary’s on Saturday. That win snapped a four-game losing skid. Canisius will lean on guard Shariah Gailes, who led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds in that victory. Gailes has been a bright spot, recording a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds in a loss at Manhattan on Feb. 14. The matchup pits Merrimack’s balanced and productive offense against a Canisius squad that has frequently found scoring difficult. The Warriors have surpassed 70 points in four of their last eight games, while the Griffins have been held under 60 points in 10 of their last 13 contests. Thursday’s game represents a critical opportunity for Merrimack to solidify its standing before hosting Niagara on Saturday. For Canisius, it is a chance to build momentum from its overtime win before a tough road trip to Quinnipiac. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.