Feb. 6, 2009

Box Score

Photo Gallery

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Up by just four with nine minutes to play, Siena went on a 21-4 run to defeat the Greyhounds 65-46 Friday evening at UHY Court in Loudonville. Senior forward Heather Stec scored a career-high 24 points and junior guard Merrick Volpe set a career-mark of her own with 13 points in front of 1,182 fans on breast cancer awareness night.

Siena (9-12, 8-4) and Loyola (8-14, 3-9) both struggled offensively in the early part of the game with the Saints missing their first eight shots and the Greyhounds going 1-for-7. Stec and Allie Lindemann jump started the offense as they combined for 11 of the team's first 13 points. Lindemann went at her defenders scoring on driving layups and mid-range jumpers. She was 3-for-5 inside the arc.

Siena took a 28-25 lead into halftime.

Loyola scored the first two baskets of the second half to take a 29-28 lead. The Saints stumbled as they shot 0-for-3 and had a turnover in their first four possessions during that time. The teams traded baskets and leads for the next three minutes with Lindemann, Serena Moore and Stec taking back the lead for the Saints respectively. Stec went on an 8-0 run by herself in a minute and a half to give the Saints a 40-33 lead.

The Saints looked strong down the stretch, something the team's been looking for in their recent wins. They led 44-40 with 9:44 remaining, then they went on a 21-4 run and closed the door. Siena shot 53.6% (15-of-28) from the field in the second half. Siobhan Prior, their only player to score double digits, led the Greyhounds with 12 points. She shot 5-of-19 from the field.

The Saints outrebounded Loyola 42-30 with a dominating 25-10 edge in the second half.

Stec hit 11-of-17 (64.7%) from the field and added a game-high nine rebounds. Volpe finished with 13 points on 4-of-6 from the field and had seven rebounds in 35 minutes. Lindemann scored 14 points and had six rebounds and six assists in a game-high 38 minutes.

Siena returns to action Sunday when they play Canisius in Loudonville. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.