Final Stats

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Siena Women's Basketball put a bow on the winningest calendar year in 12 years, ending 2015 and non-conference play with a convincing 81-65 win over Fairleigh Dickinson at Stratis Arena. The Saints' offense exploded in recording season-highs in scoring, field goal percentage (47.6%), field goals made (30) and assists (15).

Sophomore guard Kollyns Scarbrough led a balanced Siena (5-7) offensive attack with 15 points and the MAAC's leader in steals tied a career-high with her third, five-steal game of the season. The Saints placed five players in double figures for the second time in 15 games, after having not done so in the previous 251 games spanning eight years.

Senior forward Symone Kelly added a season-high 13 points and six rebounds off the bench for Siena which capped a storybook 2015, highlighted by an appearance in the Women's Basketball Invitational Championship Game in March. The Saints finished 2015 with 20 wins, marking the program's most victories since posting 22 wins during the 2003 calendar year.

Kelsey Cruz and Erica Livermore paced Fairleigh Dickinson (3-9) with 20 points apiece.

Siena, which had scored just 92 points total over its previous two games, ended the first half on a 14-3 run to take a commanding 44-30 lead at the break. The 44 points and 14-point margin marked the Saints' largest in a first half this season.

After scoring just 50 points total and shooting a season-low 24.6% in Monday's loss at Colgate, Siena shot 53.3% (16-30) in the first half. The Saints had entered play ranking 10th of 11 teams in the MAAC in both scoring (56.2) and field goal percentage (.330).

As impressive as their offense was, Siena built its early advantage thanks to its defense. The Saints swiped nine steals in the opening half and held a decided 16-0 edge in points off turnovers at the break. Siena finished with a season-high 15 steals for the third time in four games, forcing 27 FDU turnovers in total.

The Saints extended their lead to 17 points in the opening minutes of the third quarter before the Knights responded with a 13-2 run -- with Cruz and Livermore accounting for all of the scoring -- to rally within 53-47 with 3:36 left in the third quarter.

But Siena ended the quarter on an 11-3 run to go back up by 14 and would ultimately lead by as many as 20 points in winning their seventh straight over Fairleigh Dickinson dating back to 1986. The Saints have averaged 80.3 points during the streak in winning by an average margin of 19.4 points. Siena is now 44-22 (.667) against the 10 current members of the Northeast Conference including 7-2 under head coach Ali Jaques who is a perfect 4-0 against FDU.

Junior captain Meghan Donohue scored all 10 of her points in the first half and added eight rebounds and a career-high four steals, while sophomore forward Emmanuella Edoka contributed all 10 of her points in the second half. Sophomore guard Joella Gibson was the fifth Saint in double figures posting career-highs of 10 points, five rebounds and four assists, while fellow reserve freshman Karolina Severova also added a career-high seven points off a Siena bench which tallied 38 points.

Siena continues its four games in seven-day stretch when it tips off the New Year and resumes conference play Saturday at Niagara at 3 p.m.