Jan. 4, 2011
Box Score
RIVERDALE, N.Y. - Six days ago Siena embarked on a four-game road trip to the greater New York City metropolitan area, looking to get their season back on track. Less than a week later the Saints are playing their best basketball of the year after culminating their road trip with their third straight win, a 51-44 triumph over Manhattan.
With wins over the past 48 hours against expected league contenders Iona and the Jaspers, Siena (4-8, 2-0) has opened the conference season with consecutive MAAC road wins for the first time since 2000-01.
The Saints trademark pressure defense came out surging in the first half, limiting Manhattan (8-5, 0-2) to just 27.8% (5-for-18) from the floor while forcing 12 turnovers as the Jaspers had trouble moving the ball and dished out just one assist. Siena built a season-best eight point halftime lead as a result, while allowing a season-low 17 first half points.
In the second half Siena continued to surge, building as big as a 12-point cushion at 39-27 with 14:18 remaining. But the Saints offense began to sputter, opening the door for Manhattan to respond with a 12-2 run over the next seven and a half minutes to close the gap to just two at 41-39 with 6:44 left.
It would be as close as the Jaspers would get.
The Saints dominated the glass in the second half out-rebounding the Lady J's 23-8, routinely limiting them to just one shot down the court. While Siena struggled to make shots late, the defense stepped up and offensively Siena knocked down all 10 of their second half free throw attempts to seal the win.
Siena has stepped up from the line the past few games, making clutch shots late as they went 12-14 from the charity stripe today and are 24-29 (82.8%) over the past two games after shooting just 38.5% (20-for-52) their previous four games.
Serena Moore posted her fourth double-double of the season with team-highs of 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Maja Gerlyng added 10. The Saints strength however continued to be their defense, which has limited their opponents to an average of 48.7 points during their three-game win streak.
Siena held Manhattan's top two scorers Abby Wentworth and Monica Roeder to just nine combined points on 2-for-15 shooting. The duo had entered the game average better than 22 points per contest. Toni-Ann Lawrence led the Jaspers with 12 points off the bench.
Siena looks to move to 3-0 in the MAAC for the first time since the 2002-03 season when they return to the Capital Region for their conference home opener Saturday against Rider with tip-off set for 2 p.m.
