Final Stats

HAMDEN, CONN. - Samantha Guastella scored a career-high 28 points and shot 6-9 from three-point range as MAAC Preseason co-favorite Quinnipiac shot past Siena Women's Basketball 78-65 at the TD Bank Sports Center. Quinnipiac's three-point shooting was the difference as the Bobcats shot 14-30 from beyond the arc.

Freshmen Kollyns Scarbrough and Margot Hetzke were impressive again for the Saints (3-3, 0-2) which battled back several times from double digits deficits but couldn't get all the way back over the hump. Scarbrough posted season-highs with 17 points and six assists, while Hetzke added 11 points and nine rebounds for Siena which has lost three straight.

Quinnipiac (5-2, 1-0) shot just 2-13 from inside the arc in the first half, but 9-17 (52.9%) from three-point range to take a 34-29 lead at the break. Guastella went 5-6 from distance in the first half, scoring 15 points for the Bobcats.

The Bobcats, who went 12 deep early and player up-tempo against the undermanned Saints throughout, scored the first eight points of the second half to build a seemingly commanding 13-point lead. But resilient Siena battled back.

The Saints answered with a 15-6 run to pull with 48-44 with 11:22 to play. After the Bobcats rattled off the next nine points including a pair of three-point plays from Guastella, Siena responded again with an 8-0 run to rally to within 57-52 at the 8:15 mark.

But in the end, Quinnipiac made one final decisive push, going on a 15-5 run over 3:52 to go up 15 in the waning minutes and put it away. The Bobcats ran efficiently in transition throughout, dishing out 23 assists on 26 made field goals including 29 points off turnovers and seven different players hit a three.

Senior captain Tehresa Coles added 13 points for the Saints including 3-4 from three. Ranked 15th nationally in steals entering the day, Coles added four more to her total to tie Cathy Rousseau '82 for seventh on the Saints' all-time list with 230 for her career.

Michigan transfer Val Driscoll contributed nine points and 12 rebounds for Quinnipiac, which has won all three meetings between the new MAAC foes.

Sophomore captain Meghan Donohue and junior Symone Kelly added eight points apiece for the Saints which shot just 17-32 (53.1%) from the free throw line.

Siena now has eight days to prepare for crosstown rival UAlbany in the Professional Fire Restoration Albany Cup. The men's and women's basketball doubleheader tips on Saturday, Dec. 13, with the women's game at 5 p.m. followed by the men at 7:30 p.m.