Feb. 21, 2011
Box Score
BRIDGEPORT, CONN. - Siena got its first look this season at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard, home of next week's MAAC Championships. Clearly, the Saints liked what they saw. Serena Moore had another monster effort, scoring 18 of her 27 points in the second half as the Saints posted their first regular season sweep of Fairfield in seven years, defeating the Stags 60-52.
With the win, Siena (12-14, 10-6) moves into a fourth place tie in the conference standings with Fairfield (17-10, 10-6), whom they now hold the tiebreaker over. Additionally the Saints, who were picked eighth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, moved within a game of third place Manhattan which lost tonight.
Moore dominated from start to finish but it was her clutch play down the stretch that made the difference. Siena saw a nine-point second half lead dwindle to just one, 42-41 with 6:26 to play before their senior leader took over the game for good.
Moore scored five points and added a clutch assist on a Missy Ramsey back-breaking three during a 10-0 run that put Siena up 52-41 with 4:01 to play, ending any hope of a Fairfield comeback.
Moore, who on Saturday became just the 13th player in MAAC history to reach 1,000 career points, 600 rebounds and 100 blocks, shot 10-for-19 from the floor and added three rejections. She was huge on the glass as well where she pulled down a career-high tying 15 caroms as the Saints out-rebounded Fairfield 36-27. It marked the first time this year in conference action that the Stags lost the battle of the boards.
Cristina Centeno and Maja Gerlyng joined Moore in double figures with 11 points apiece as Siena finished its season long four-game road trip 3-1.
Katelynn Linney led Fairfield with 17 points, while Desiree Pina added 13. Moore limited three-time MAAC Player of the Week Taryn Johnson to a quiet nine points.
With the victory, the Saints reached several achievements they haven't hit in several years. Siena picked up its seventh road win, its most in eight years. The 12th victory is the programs' most since 2004-05 and their 10th MAAC victory marks their highest total since the 2003-04 season.
Siena faces its toughest test of the year on Friday when they welcome nationally ranked Marist to the ARC at 7 p.m. in a game that will be televised on Time Warner Cable Sports. The Red Foxes hold the nation's longest active winning streak at 21 games and were ranked 21st nationally in today's Associated Press Poll.
The game will also serve as Siena's 11th Annual Pink Zone Game for Breast Cancer Awareness. The Saints will wear custom made pink uniforms for the game and have set a goal of raising $20,000 for the Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer (CRAAB!). For more information on this special event, visit the official Pink Zone webpage at www.sienasaints.com/pinkzone.
