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ALBANY, N.Y. â€" Siena Women's Basketball whittled a 20-point halftime deficit to as little as seven in the final minute before ultimately falling to defending MAAC Champion Quinnipiac 69-59 at the Times Union Center. Senior forward Symone Kelly recorded her first career double-double for the Saints, posting career-highs of 21 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four blocks.

Sophomore guard Kollyns Scarbrough contributed her second career double-double adding 11 points, a career-high 11 rebounds and four assists for Siena (12-11, 9-4) which still trailed by 16 with four minutes to go before reeling off a 15-6 run to close within seven with 35 seconds to play.

Paula Strautmane led four players in double figures for red-hot Quinnipiac (14-7, 9-3) which won its ninth straight to leapfrog the Saints in the standings. The freshman forward finished with 18 points and eight rebounds for the Bobcats which improved to 43-9 in league action since joining the MAAC.

Twelve days after taking a 30-point halftime lead en route to a 42-point win over Siena in Connecticut, Quinnipiac ended the first half on a 15-5 run to claim a 20-point lead at the break 39-19. The Bobcats shot 54.2% (13-24) over the opening 20 minutes of action and capitalized off 15 Siena turnovers which they turned into 21 points.

But the Saints would respond out of the lockerroom scoring the first eight points and ultimately held the MAAC's top scoring offense scoreless for 6:28. Siena's defense clamped down in the third quarter forcing the Bobcats to miss 12 of their 15 shots, but still trailed by 15 heading into the final quarter.

Siena would continue to battle until the end, but ultimately ran out of time against a Quinnipiac team which has captured the first seven meetings between the programs.

Kelly scored 17 of her 21 points in the second half, including 14 straight at one juncture for Siena. Red-shirt sophomore guard Denisha Petty-Evans recorded her second 14-point performance of the season against Quinnipiac for Siena which saw its four-game home winning streak snapped.

The Saints dominated the glass, 47-28 and made the most of their opportunities in holding a 23-3 edge in second chance points. Siena would need every one of them to try and stem the tide from 25 turnovers.

Carly Fabbri scored 15 points and Sarah Shewan added 13 points and seven rebounds off a Quinnipiac bench which contributed 31 points.

The Saints will look to build off their strong second half performance Sunday when they return to action against MAAC Preseason favorite Fairfield at 1 p.m. in Bridgeport, Conn.