Jan. 22, 2011
Box Score
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - In a battle between the two teams tied for second place in the early season MAAC Standings, the matchup between Siena and Loyola proved to be as competitive as expected. But buoyed by a 15-point second half performance from Preseason All-MAAC selection Miriam McKenzie, Loyola handed the Saints their second straight conference defeat, 60-53 Saturday afternoon at UHY Court.
With the loss, Siena (7-10, 5-2) drops to third place in the MAAC Standings, while Loyola (9-9, 6-1) takes over sole possession of second place albeit very early still in the conference season.
Early on Loyola looked every bit the part of one of the conference's elite as the Greyhounds raced out to an early 11-0 lead just 5:14 into the game. Loyola led throughout the first half, but Siena hung tough and mounted a 12-2 run to close out the half and went into the lockerroom down just a point, 25-24.
After an unexpectedly inconsistent first 20 minutes from a pair of teams jockeying for position in the top third of the MAAC, a great back and forth battle ensued in a second half which featured three ties and six lead changes.
Siena took its first lead of the game at 30-27 following a Maja Gerlyng three at the 16:29 mark. Later in the half, the Saints capped an 8-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 40-34 at 8:12 following a Serena Moore layup and foul. Moore however missed the ensuing free throw that would have pushed the lead to three possessions, opening the door for the Greyhounds.
Siena uncharacteristically struggled from the foul line making just 5-for-12 after entering the game shooting 77% in conference games. Loyola meanwhile sunk 19 of their 26 attempts (73.1%).
McKenzie served as the catalyst with seven points during a 12-2 response from Loyola that turned a six-point Siena lead into a six-point Loyola advantage at 48-42 with 3:10 to play. That run would prove to be the crushing blow as Loyola made 10 of its final 12 free throws thereafter to close out the game.
The highly touted Greyhounds backcourt of McKenzie, Katie Sheahin and Erica DiClemente came as advertised. The MAAC's highest scoring trio combined for 47 points, led by McKenzie's game-high 22 point, 12 rebound performance. It was the third double-double of the year for Loyola's starting two-guard.
Fellow MAAC Preseason First Teamer Moore added her fifth double-double of the season and 12th of her career with a team-high 17 points and a career-high tying 15 rebounds. Gerlyng, the MAAC's leading scorer in conference games, reached her MAAC average with 16.
Siena will look to rebound Monday night when they host Saint Peter's in a men's and women's doubleheader at the Times Union Center in Albany. Tip-off of the women's game is set for 5 p.m. as the Saints will look to snap a seven-game losing streak against the Peahens.
