Final Stats

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Siena women's basketball opened up their 2016-17 season in dramatic fashion as they faced the 2016 NCAA Runners-up, #14/13 Syracuse. #14/13 Syracuse picked up their second victory of the year with a 102-65 win over the Saints. Siena has still not beat a ranked opponent in program history.

Isabella Slim scored the first basket of the game to give Syracuse a 3-0 lead, but Siena then went on a 9-0 run, including two three-pointer by sophomore Jackie Benitez. Slim back in and stopped the run with another three, but the Saints continued to hold the lead 12-6 early in the first quarter. The Orange would not give it away to Siena that easy and continued to fight. In a battle for the lead, the score would be tied 20-20 after the first quarter.

#14/13 Syracuse went on a 10-0 run to start the second quarter. The green and gold continued to fight hard, but 2016 National Runner-up Syracuse proved to be the national contender they were just a season ago. They held the Saints to just nine points in the second quarter and took a 49-29 lead heading into halftime.

The third quarter would prove to be a turning point for the Saints as they held the Orange tight early on. With quick play making on both ends the in-state foes battled for buckets. Siena was outscored 17-26 but never gave up and made some big plays to let the Orange know they were not going back to the Capital District quietly. The Orange led 75-46 after the third quarter. After a quick 4-0 run for Syracuse to open the fourth quarter, but Siena came to the Carrier Dome to play. Benitez and Denisha Petty-Evans drained back-to-back three-pointers to give some pep in the Saints step. It was a hard-fought battle that the Saints never gave up. #14/13 Syracuse would take the victory 102-65.

Jackie Benitez set a career-high seven three-pointers made to total 21 points , which was a game-high. Denish Petty-Evans added 13 points as she went four-for-seven from the field. Kollyns Scarbrough led the Saints with seven rebounds, five being defensive. Deja Rawls dished out four of Siena's 15 assists. Siena outshot Syracuse from the three-point line. The Saints shot 45.8 while the Orange shot 30.6 percent.

Siena will return to the Capital District and host Hartford in the home opener on Saturday, Nov. 19. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. The game will also benefit the Interfaith Partnership for Homelessness as the Stomp Out Homelessness game.