Nov. 28, 2009
Final Stats
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Siena lost its fifth straight game, a 70-60 loss to Belmont in the Northern Arizona University Thanksgiving Classic consolation game Saturday afternoon in Flagstaff, Arizona. The Saints cut the deficit to two points with 6:32 remaining in the game, but scored just seven points the rest of the way (on 3-for-14 shooting) and saw the Bruins make 10-of-12 free throws down the stretch.
Siena (0-5) got off to its best start this season, opening up a 7-0 lead on its first three possessions. Amber Rockwell scored Belmont's (4-1) first eight points and cut Siena's lead to 11-8 on a 3-pointer with 13:43 left in the first half.
The Saints led for most of the first half and took its largest lead of the game (10 points) on a jumper by sophomore Brittany Wilwohl with 8 ½ minutes remaining. Wilwohl provided a spark off the bench, hitting her first three shots of the game and scoring seven points in just four minutes.
Belmont used the 3-pointer to close the gap late in the first half. Although they made just 8-of-23 attempts in the first half (11-of-38 in the game), the Bruins scored 12 straight points via the 3-ball, the last one capping a 14-2 run that gave them a 32-30 lead. With time winding down, Shaunda Strayhorn drove to the hoop and made a layup with less than one second on the clock. She was fouled and converted the 3-point play to give Belmont a 37-33 lead at halftime.
With Belmont ahead by 10 with 7:46 remaining in the game, Siena went on an 8-0 run in just over a minute. Cathy Cockrum finished it off with a 3-pointer that brought the Saints within two points. Cockrum scored all eight of her points in the second half and had another strong game on the glass. She led all players with eight rebounds.
Siena struggled to score the remainder of the game. The team scored three points in five minutes and shot 3-for-14 following Cockrum's 3. Belmont closed out the game with efficient free throw shooting (10-of-12) in the final 1:21.
Senior Merrick Volpe scored six points and had six rebounds, six assists to four turnovers and three steals in 38 minutes. Sophomore Cristina Centeno scored eight points and had five assists and no turnovers in her first start of the season.
Siena showed improvement handling the ball. They recorded 20 assists and had 14 turnovers - the best numbers for either category this season.
The Saints return to action Wednesday when they host Binghamton. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
