Dec. 6, 2015
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LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. -- Sophomore guard Kollyns Scarbrough hit the game-winning free throw with 7.1 seconds remaining in overtime as Siena Women's Basketball snuck past Saint Peter's 59-58 in its MAAC home opener at the ARC. Scarbrough finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in leading the Saints to the program's first 2-0 start in the MAAC in five years.
Sophomore forward Margot Hetzke added her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds for Siena (3-5, 2-0) which has won three straight after opening the season with five consecutive defeats.
With a shot to win it late, Siena put the ball in the hands of the person who has been the team's best player over the first month of the season. With 14.4 seconds remaining the Saints got the ball to Scarbrough off an inbounds and she drove hard and was fouled. After missing her first free throw, Scarbrough made the second to put Siena in front.
Saint Peter's (1-7, 0-2) had the final chance to win it, but couldn't get a shot off before the final buzzer sounded as Siena's defense clamped down and the Saints' snapped a seven-game losing streak in overtimes. The victory marked the Saints' first overtime triumph since a 75-67 win over Iona at the ARC on Feb. 7, 2010.
Siena has now won 11 straight over the Peacocks, but had to shake a sluggish start to overcome an improved Saint Peter's squad.
Siena shot just 19.4% (7-36) in the opening half and Saint Peter's took advantage. Talah Hughes finished a three-point play capping a 15-3 run as the Peacocks opened as large as a nine-point lead late in the first half. Saint Peter's took a 33-27 lead to the lockerroom.
The Saints opened the second half strong and reclaimed the lead following a steal and three from freshman guard Jackie Benitez which made it 37-36 with 5:43 remaining in the third quarter. Siena would not trail again.
Scarbrough capped what would ultimately be a 9-0 run moments later. Scarbrough, who has now scored in double figures in all eight games to start the year, scored nine of her points during the Saints' big third quarter in which they doubled up Saint Peter's 18-9.
Siena would take as large as an eight-point lead, 54-46 with 5:43 remaining in regulation following a Benitez jumper, but couldn't shake the pesky Peacocks.
Saint Peter's finished regulation on a 10-2 run, drawing even at 56-all following an acrobatic layup by Sajanna Bethea with 53 seconds remaining. The Peacocks would also have the final shot in regulation, but a highly contested driving runner by Hala Mostafa was off the mark sending the game to overtime.
Both teams struggled to draw first blood in the extra session as the sides combined to miss 10 of 11 shots during the period. Senior forward Symone Kelly opened the scoring with the lone field goal of overtime with 2:26 remaining, but Marcia Senatus made two free throws with 54 seconds left to tie it for Saint Peter's.
Benitez had another key performance off the bench, finishing with nine points and three steals for the Saints which are off to their best MAAC start since opening conference play with five consecutive victories to open the 2010-11 conference docket.
Hetzke, who entered play with just one made three on the season, hit three big trifectas in helping Siena stop a three-game slide in MAAC home openers. Overall, the Saints have now won six of their last eight games at the ARC.
A Preseason Second Team All-MAAC selection, Bethea paced the Peacocks with a career-high 21 points shooting 8-13 from the field. Senatus added 11 points and nine rebounds for Saint Peter's which has lost 26 of its last 27 on the road.
Siena will get to enjoy being in a share for first place in the MAAC for at least three weeks, as conference play doesn't resume for good until New Year's weekend. The Saints resume non-conference play Wednesday with a 7 p.m. tip-off at New Hampshire.
