Nov. 27, 2010
Box Score
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - With a one-point lead, two free throws upcoming and possession of the ball following an intentional foul with 20.9 seconds to go in regulation, the Saints were in good position for a win Saturday afternoon. But Central Connecticut State fought back, forced overtime and prevailed over the Saints 57-48 this afternoon at the ARC.
Serena Moore led Siena (1-3) with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Kerrianne Dugan paced CCSU with 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the Blue Devils improved to 4-0 for the first time ever during their Division I history.
The key play came following the intentional foul call. Poised to go to the line to seal the game, the Saints' Cristina Centeno was whistled for a technical foul after she was pushed to the deck and the complexion of the game would take a complete 180.
With the Saints clinging to a 38-37 lead, Central Connecticut's Leanne Crockett sunk both technical free throws to give the Blue Devils a 39-38 lead. At the other end, Centeno only made one of two which tied the game but Siena could not score on the ensuing possession and the game would go to overtime. The tie was the tenth of the game in a contest that also featured 10 lead changes.
In the extra period, CCSU hit back-to-back backbreaking threes and scored the first seven points of the session, never looking back as they would go on to post the win.
Both teams struggled to score throughout, with the most sustained offensive output coming from the Saints' end late in the first half. Trailing 16-11, Siena posted a 13-2 run over the final 8:12 of the half and held the Blue Devils without a field goal for 8:06 as they took a 24-18 lead into intermission.
But in the second half, the Saints shots would not fall as CCSU opened the half on a 9-2 run to quickly reclaim the lead. Siena shot just 26.6% (16-for-61) for the game and only 21.2% (7-for-33) in scoring just 24 points in the second half and overtime combined.
The Blue Devils were not much better from the field, shooting at just a 34.6% (18-for-52) clip in an ugly offensive showing for both teams that totaled 51 combined turnovers as opposed to just 16 total assists between the two squads.
Maja Gerlyng (11) and Centeno (10) joined Moore in double figures for the Saints, while Justina Udenze (12 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks) and Brooke Bailey (10) added strong performances for CCSU. Bailey led a Blue Devils bench that outscored the Saints second unit 14-1.
The Saints return to action Saturday as they look to retain the Albany Cup when they host crosstown rival UAlbany in a men's and women's doubleheader at the Times Union Center. The women's game tips off the day's action at 5 p.m.
