Jan. 10, 2014
Box Score
ALBANY, N.Y. - Ida Krogh posted career-highs of 21 points and seven three-pointers, but Niagara's Meghan McGuinness nailed seven threes of her own as the Purple Eagles shot past the Saints 76-72 at the Times Union Center.
McGuiness shot 7-11 from beyond the arc in scoring a career-high 29 points as Niagara (4-10, 2-3) earned its first win over Siena (6-8, 1-4) in the Capital Region since December 5, 2003. Siena had won the previous nine meetings and was 26-4 all-time at home against Niagara entering the night.
Tehresa Coles swiped a season-high five steals and added 14 points and eight rebounds for Siena, while Kelsey Booth contributed nine points off the bench in a back and forth game that featured nine ties and 13 lead changes.
But the Saints could not stop McGuinness and Niagara which shot 57.7% in the second half and 52% for the game. Chanel Johnson scored all 11 of her points in the second half to compliment McGuinness, while Taylor McKay added 11 points on 5-7 shooting off the bench for Niagara.
Siena struggled to get into rhythm as early foul trouble plagued the Saints. Four starters were whistled for two first half fouls while the team's leading scorer entering the night Kanika Cummings picked up three.
Nonetheless Siena stayed within four points at the half, 31-27 thanks in large part to 19 Niagara turnovers. The Purple Eagles turned it over 32 times for the game, leading to 26 Siena points.
Siena reeled off four straight threes early in the second half including a pair from Krogh to claim a 46-41 lead at the 14:18 mark. The Saints hit a season-high 12 threes for the game.
That's when McGuinness and Johnson went to work. The duo led Niagara on a 15-4 run to put the Purple Eagles up 56-50 with 7:38 to go.
But Krogh, who was making her first start of the season, still had some late magic left. She'd drain three more threes over a two and a half minute span, the last of which brought the Saints back to a 59-all tie with 4:13 to go.
In the end however it was McGuinness and Niagara's night. The junior guard hit a pair of clutch threes down the stretch, the second of which put Niagara up seven with 1:07 to go.
The Saints return to action Monday for the Fourth Annual BlueShield of Northeastern New York "Kid's Day" Game when the Saints host Monmouth at the ARC at 11 a.m. Nearly 2,000 schoolchildren and their teachers from 10 Capital Region area schools will be in attendance. The game will be televised throughout New York on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.
