Final Stats

HAMILTON, N.Y. -- Paige Kriftcher bounced in the game-winning free throw line jumper with just 2.4 seconds remaining as Colgate edged Siena Women's Basketball 52-50 at Cotterell Court. Siena had a chance to tie on its last possession, but junior captain Meghan Donohue's put back was waived off as her shot was released just after the final buzzer had sounded.

Freshman guard Jackie Benitez led all scorers with career-highs of 16 points and three blocks for the shorthanded Saints (4-7) which dressed just eight players and finished with only six following a pair of foul outs. Benitez added a career-high tying four steals in an impressive first collegiate start for Siena which was without the services of starters Margot Hetzke and Denisha Petty-Evans.

Kriftcher scored nine of her 11 points in the second half for Colgate (3-8) which secured just its third win in 18 all-time meetings against the Saints. Ariel Etheridge tallied 11 of her career-high 13 points off the bench in the first quarter for the Raiders which won at Cotterell Court for the first time in five home games this season.

Following Kriftcher's go-ahead jumper, Siena called timeout to draw up a final play and advance the ball to the frontcourt per the new NCAA rule. Inbounding from the left in front of Siena's bench, sophomore guard Kollyns Scarbrough lobbed a pass over the defense that sophomore forward Emmanuella Edoka caught deep under the hoop. Edoka stepped back and attempted a layup, but her shot was off the mark and Donohue's put back wasn't in time as Colgate held on to snap an eight-game losing streak in the series in defeating Siena for the first time since 1987.

The game seemed destined to be a barnburner early, as Colgate took a 23-19 lead following the first quarter. But both offenses cooled off considerably thereafter in combining for just 60 points the rest of the way.

Siena's defense clamped down in the second quarter bequeathing just six points and the Saints ended the half on a 9-2 run to take a 32-29 lead at the break. Siena held Colgate, which shot 9-14 from the field including 5-6 from three in the first quarter, to just 9-41 (22%) overall and 1-15 from distance the rest of the way.

In a game that featured 12 ties and 14 lead changes where neither side ever led by more than five points, the teams were deadlocked at 43 following the third quarter. After not scoring for the first five minutes of the final period, Siena went on a mini 5-0 run to reclaim their final lead at 48-47 following a Donohue basket with 4:00 left.

But the Saints couldn't keep the momentum going as they missed their final six shots. Siena shot just 17.2% (5-29) in the second half en route to shooting a season-low 24.6% (15-61) for the game.

Freshman guard Deja Rawls reached double figures for the first time in her career with 11 points, while Edoka added seven points and nine rebounds in her first collegiate start for the Saints. Donohue contributed seven points and 10 rebounds for Siena which has had six of its last eight games decided by six points or less.

For the second time in three games, Siena tied a season-high with 15 steals in forcing 22 Colgate miscues and holding a 19-9 edge in points off turnovers. Scarbrough led the way in tying a career-high with five thefts and added nine rebounds, but was otherwise neutralized by the Raiders as the MAAC's third leading scorer was limited to a season-low four points in missing all 10 of her field goal attempts while failing to reach double figures for the first time this season.

The nation's leader in blocked shots Josie Stockill added four rejections to go along with nine points and a career-high tying 15 rebounds for Colgate.

Following a 16-day holiday break, Siena continues its busiest week of the season which features four road games in seven days. The Saints return to action Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. tip at Fairleigh Dickinson.