Dec. 7, 2011
Box Score
ANNAPOLIS, MD. - Navy made 10 threes and out-rebounded Siena by 22 leading to a 61-50 victory for the Mids Wednesday night at Alumni Hall. Cristina Centeno scored 15 of her game-high 18 points in the second half to lead Siena.
Navy (5-3) capitalized off a 14-0 run to end the first half, breaking a 19-all tie and giving the Mids a 33-19 lead at intermission. Siena (1-5) was held scoreless for the final 5:36 of the first half and for seven and a half minutes overall.
The Saints battled hard in the second half, but could never get any closer than 10 in dropping their third straight.
Centeno did all she could to keep the Saints close, scoring 14 of the team's first 19 points in the second half. But Navy continued to drain threes and win the battle off the glass to fend off Siena.
Navy made 10-22 (45.5%) from beyond the arc and out-rebounded the Saints 49-27 including 16 offensive boards. As a result, the Mids held a 15-3 edge in second chance points.
Navy also shot 41.5% (22-53) overall for the game, while Siena connected on just 17 of their 57 (29.8%) shots.
Siena did however show improvement on the defensive end, especially in the second half. Spearheaded by the efforts of freshman Tehresa Coles amongst others, the Saints forced normally sure handed Navy into 14 second half turnovers. For the game the Saints forced Navy, which entered the evening leading the Patriot League in fewest turnovers (15.3), to 23 miscues which included 13 steals.
Four Mids placed in double figures led by Alix Membreno's 16 points. Senior Erin Edwards, who entered the game with 11 points all season, scored 14 points including a perfect 4-4 from three in leading Navy to its fourth straight win.
Defensively, Siena was able to shut down reining Patriot League Rookie of the Year and Preseason Player of the Year Jade Geif to just two points while forcing her into seven turnovers.
Maja Gerlyng, who was held scoreless Saturday, finished second on the Saints with 12 points. Lily Grenci added nine points - including her first two career threes - to go along with three steals.
Siena returns to action Saturday for a noon tip at Central Connecticut State.
