Dec. 5, 2009
Final Stats
ALBANY, N.Y. - Siena earned its first win of the season and the 300th of Head Coach Gina Castelli's career with a 65-61 overtime win against cross-town rival UAlbany in a non-conference game at Times Union Center Saturday afternoon. The Saints retain the Albany Cup from their last meeting in 2007-08 and have won nine of the last 10 meetings.
UAlbany's Delaney Cohan hit a game-tying 3-pointer with six seconds left in regulation to force overtime, but the Saints buckled down and made 3-of-6 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line in the extra period. Senior forward Sarah Fullmer scored seven of her 10 points in overtime.
Siena (1-6) shot a dismal 17.1% (6-of-35) from the field in the first half, but UAlbany didn't shoot much better (22.6%, 7-of-31). Junior forward Serena Moore led the Saints with six points in the first half. She finished with career-highs in points (22) and rebounds (11).
UAlbany (3-4) took a 22-16 lead into halftime.
The Saints turned it on in the second half, making their first eight shots. They made a startling 63.2% (12-of-19) from the field in the second half, but turned it over 17 times to keep it close. Siena led by as many as seven points (43-36) when Moore hit two free throws with 6:08 to play. But the Saints went over four minutes without a field goal and UAlbany tied the game at 44-44. Allie Lindemann ended the drought with a 3-pointer at the 2:05 mark.
Siena led 51-48 with 16 seconds left in regulation after two Merrick Volpe free throws. But Cohan drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the arc with six seconds left and forced overtime.
After losing to Binghamton in overtime three days ago, the Saints came back more determined and took care of business. They scored the first five points and made their free throws down the stretch. UAlbany wouldn't go away and tied it 61-61 on Felicia Johnson's layup with 16 seconds left. But Melia Basavand fouled Cristina Centeno following the inbounds. Centeno made both and the Great Danes missed their final two shots.
Castelli is just the third women's coach in the MAAC to notch 300 career wins (Diane Nolan and Mike Granelli).
The Saints return to action December 13 when they play James Madison in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
