Jan. 7, 2006

Final Stats

Niagara Falls, N.Y.- The Siena women's basketball (6-7, 2-2) team dropped their third straight as the Niagara Purple Eagles (2-11, 1-3) clawed out a 61-57 win at the Gallagher Center this afternoon.

Siena got off to a nice start building as much as an eight point first half lead. Leading 26-18 with five minutes left on the clock, the Purple Eagles outscored Siena 12-4 to go into halftime tied. The Saints shot 50% in the half from the field (10-20) and from beyond the arc (2-4).

After the break, the Saints found themselves down 45-37 with 12:28 left on the clock. The Green and Gold ran off a 13-0 run to take a 50-45 lead with a shade under seven minutes to play. Much like they did in the first half, the Purple Eagles closed the half strong. Niagara outscored the Saints 16-7 over the games final minutes for the win.

Siena drew within 2 with 47 ticks left and Lauren Surber at the line. For a team that had hit 20-of-21 free throws to that point in the game, Saints fans grew loud. The fates were not with Siena this night as Surber missed the first and hit the second, that was the last point the Saints scored.

Katelyn Dooley displayed a nice balance of inside and outside game before intermission. The junior nailed a pair of triples combined with a nice driving layup and pullup jumper for 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting to pace the Saints in the first half. Dooley finished with a game-high 18 points, four rebounds and three assists.

The Green and Gold did their job from the charity strip converting all eight attempts they had in the half. Laura Menty got four of her eight first half points from the stripe and fellow sophomore Melissa Manzer notched four of her six points from the line.

Senior Whitney Cave owned the boards skying for nine caroms to go along with five assists and a steal.

Menty finished with 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting.

The game featured 10 lead changes and the score was tied eight times.

The Saints next take to the floor on Thursday in Riverdale, N.Y., as they take on the Manhattan Lady Jaspers at 7 p.m.