Jan. 11, 2009
Box Score
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Siena shot 58.2% from the field and scored 24 points off 21 Niagara turnovers to beat the Purple Eagles 81-59 Sunday afternoon in Loudonville. The Saints used a 21-2 run in a seven minute span to build a 31-19 lead with 5:05 left in the first half. The victory makes it back-to-back for Siena and gives Niagara their 12th consecutive loss. Siena has won the last five meetings with Niagara.
Siena (4-10, 3-2) dominated Niagara (1-15, 0-5) in every phase of the game starting midway through the first half. Everyone wearing green and gold seemed to have a hot hand as they shot 60% from the floor and 50% from 3-point range in the first half. Their defense suffocated Niagara and forced 12 turnovers. Siena scored 14 points off those miscues in the first half.
Niagara cut the deficit to seven points with a 10-2 run over the last 3:37 of the first half. Rachele Folino scored the first six points of that run.
Senior forward Heather Stec continued her stellar play. Two days after setting a career-high with 23 points, she scored 17 today on 6-of-7 from the field. She is now 21-for her last-24 (.875) from the field.
The Saints' shooting didn't cool down in the second half. They shot 56.7% and matched their 4-for-8 effort from long range. Siena got balanced scoring as four players scored in double figures: Stec (17), Serena Moore (12), Cristina Centeno (12) and Sarah Fullmer (11).
Niagara's Ali Morris set a career-high with 18 points. Folino (14) and Jennifer McNamee (10) also scored double figures.
Siena held a 34-14 advantage in the paint and their bench outscored Niagara's 36-24. Siena's bench has outscored the opponent the last three times out.
Centeno controlled the point with a game-high eight assists and six rebounds. She has 13 assists and four turnovers in their back-to-back wins. Moore added five rebounds and five steals to her 12 points. Fullmer shot 5-of-6 from the field and recorded two blocks.
Siena returns to action on January 16 when they host Iona at UHY Court at Alumni Recreation Center. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
