Five Saints in Double-Figures During 72-62 Win Over Canisius
LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Women’s Basketball saw five players reaching double figure scoring for the first time since 2015 to help the team collect its fifth win in its last six games and begin the new year on a high note. The Saints (8-5, 2-1) began a three-game homestand with a 72-62 win over Canisius (5-8, 2-2) at the UHY Center on Sunday afternoon.
Continuing the match its best start to a season in 20 years, the Green and Gold improved to 5-2 at home and collected its 13th win over the Golden Griffins in the last 15 meetings. Siena is in the midst of three straight games at home after going 5-3 during a stretch of six of eight contests away from the Capital Region between Nov. 22 – Dec. 29.
Canisius scored four of the first six points of the game, but endured a pair of seven-point runs from the Saints in the first half, with the home team holding a 18-8 advantage with 3:08 to go in the opening period. The Golden Griffins responded by embarking on a 12-1 run over the next eight minutes of action, to take a 21-20 lead with 7:24 remaining in the half. The teams stayed within four points of each other in the final minutes of the first half, with a bucket in the paint from sophomore Anajah Brown putting the home team up by three heading into the locker room.
Junior Ahniysha Jackson knocked down a three-pointer to start the second half and took the Saints 9-2 run which put them back up by double-digits. Siena never allowed Canisius to come within six points for the remainder of the game, including a stretch of four scoreless minutes at the end of the third quarter.
With Siena dominating on the floor and on the glass, Canisius knocked down a pair of free throws with a minute and 53 seconds remaining to pull within seven in crunch time. Back-to-back jumpers from sophomore Emina Selimovic and freshman Elisa Mevius sealed the deal, with Siena holding the lead for three-quarters of the game.
The Saints crossed the 70-point threshold for the first time in just under a month and shot a season-high 48 percent from the field, while tying a season-high in assists with 17 and holding a 42-34 rebounding advantage. Jackson led the way with 17 points and made both of the team’s three pointers, while Brown went for her fourth double-double of the year with 16 points and a career-high 14 boards. Selimovic added 13 off the bench to go in double-figures for the second straight game, while sophomore Valencia Fontenelle-Posson went for 12 points and seven boards and Mevius contributed ten points, five boards, seven assists, and three steals.
Canisius finished with three players in double figure scoring, with freshman standout Sisi Eleko leading the way with 17 points.
The Saints will next battle MAAC leader Fairfield on Thursday, January 5, with the Stags bringing in a perfect 3-0 conference mark. Tip-off on Kid’s Day is set for an 11 AM matinee at the UHY Center. Visit SienaSaints.com/Tickets to secure your seats for Thursday’s contest.
Courtesy Siena
