LOUDONVILLE, NY – With a packed crowd of 1,019 on hand in the Alumni Recreation Arena, the Siena Saints women's basketball program opened their regular season against the Penn Quakers. Despite the help of a 14-point night from junior Maddie Sims, the Saints fell to the Quakers, a 2018 WNIT participant, 58-51.

Sims' performance was backed up by a solid showing from freshman Margo Peterson, who was the only other Saint in double-digits with 10 points. Sims, along with sophomore Marilena Gerostergiou each led the team with six rebounds. The Saints shot the ball well from the free throw line, as they would go 8-for-10 from the charity stripe.

For Penn (1-0), Pheobe Sterba put in a game-high 16 points for the Quakers, outscoring Eleah Parker who had 12. Ashley Russell grabbed seven rebounds, as Michaw Jones had a good offense day sharing the ball with six assists.

Siena won the battle in the paint, outscoring the Quakers 30-20 down between the blocks. While the Saints also led the battle in points off turnovers 21-18, Penn capitalized on their depth by outscoring the green and gold 35-14 in bench points. Penn also took advantage of second opportunities with 15 second-chance points to Siena's six.

Sims got the party started with back-to-back buckets for five points to open the year for Siena. That lead would be short lived, as the Quakers broke a 9-9 tie with 1:35 to go in the first quarter with a three-pointer from Kennedy Suttle. Siena wouldn't grab the lead back until the fourth quarter.

Penn's biggest lead would come at 12 as they used a 16-3 run to take the advantage. Junior Sabrina Piper broke the Quakers' 13-0 run with a three pointer with 7:13 to go in the second quarter. As things went into the half, the Saints trailed by seven points at 26-19 after grinding back a few points thanks to some key buckets from Sims, Peterson, and Amari Anthony.

The Saints came out flying in the second half, as they grabbed multiple buckets to open the frame. Only three minutes into the quarter, a layup by senior Deja Rawls brought Penn's lead back to only one, 28-27. Both sides traded shots through the third, as Siena hung around and trailed by only four going into the fourth quarter.

As Penn opened up a lead back up to eight points with 6:31 to play in the fourth, the Saints didn't quit and fought back again. While able to hold Penn scoreless over a three minute period, Siena used a well-executed sequence from senior Joella Gibson that ended in a layup to cap a 9-0 run and give Siena their first lead since the first quarter, 49-48. However, Penn grabbed the lead back and didn't relinquish it over the final three minutes of play to take the victory.

Siena did not convert a three-pointer during the second half, as they went 0-for-3 in that department. Penn also led for 75 percent of the game, holding a lead for just over a total of 30 minutes of the game's 40 minutes.
The Saints return to action this Tuesday, Nov. 13 as they head on the road to Connecticut to take on Sacred Heart. Tipoff is slated for 6 PM.

2018-19 Siena Women's Basketball season and individual game tickets are on-sale now. Season tickets start as low as $70, and can be purchased by contacting the Siena Fan Relations Management Center at (518) 487-2202, online at sienasaints.com/tickets, by e-mail at sienatickets2@siena.edu. Women's individual game tickets can be purchased online at sienasaints.com/tickets or in-person at the Alumni Recreation Center Box Office on game days.