Feb. 18, 2008

Box Score

Loudonville, N.Y. - Loyola guard Tynisha Davis poured in 15 points as the Greyhounds thwarted several Siena comeback attempts in knocking off the Saints 63-56 in overtime this evening at the Alumni Recreation Center. Junior guard Shondaya Burrell led all scorers with 21 points.

Loyola (12-13, 7-8) led for all of the first half and increased their lead to as many as ten (17-7) at the 11:10 mark following a Candice Walker jumper. As was the theme for most of the evening, the Saints (9-16, 5-10) chipped way at the deficit and were able to pull within two entering intermission, 28-26.

The Green and Gold capped an 11-2 run carrying over from the end of the first half to open their largest lead of the game at four points, 32-28 after a Laura Menty bucket at the 17:46 mark. Menty, who earlier in the day was tabbed MAAC Player of the Week, finished with 13 points in the process tying Liz Lops '94 for fourth place on the all-time Siena scoring list.

The teams would compete to a back and forth second half thereafter that featured six ties and four lead changes. Menty tied the game for the sixth time in the half after nailing a jumper with 1:47 remaining in regulation. This would prove to be the last score of the half for either squad as the teams headed for overtime nodded at 52.

In the extra session, the Saints struck first on a Burrell slashing layup just six seconds into the period. Burrell shot an impressive 10-for-21 from the floor and added seven rebounds and three assists.

This would be Siena's last lead of the game as Siobhan Prior answered back 19 seconds later with a three that put Loyola up for good, 55-54. Prior finished with 13 points and made three of her four shots from long range.

The Saints would have their chances down the stretch but could not cash in on several open three point attempts. Siena finished just 3-for-20 from beyond the arc.

The loss dropped the Saints to 0-7 at the Alumni Recreation Center with a pair of home games remaining before the conclusion of the regular season. Melissa Manzer joined Burrell and Menty in double figures, posting 13 points while tying her season-high with six rebounds.

In addition to Davis and Prior, Meghan Wood came off the bench to post 12 points and six rebounds in 22 minutes of action. Wood and Davis had both missed several games due to injury and illness, including the first time these two teams met last month in Baltimore, but made their presence felt this evening combining for 27 points on 12-for-17 shooting.

The Saints will look to quickly rebound when they return to the hardwood on Friday night for a date with second place Iona. Tip time is slated for 7 p.m. from the Alumni Recreation Center.