The Siena Saints women's basketball program looks to make a splash on Friday morning, as they will go head-to-head with the first-place Quinnipiac Bobcats on the road at the People's United Center in an 11 a.m. tip-off. The Green and Gold are coming off a solid 77-68 victory at Monmouth Saturday afternoon, and look to give the 6-0 Bobcats their first MAAC loss of the season.
Siena also starts, arguably, their toughest portion of the schedule Friday as well as the Saints will play three games in five days. Looking ahead, the Green and Gold will face Saint Peter's at home Sunday afternoon, followed by a matchup at Fairfield Tuesday night.
Tune into Siena All Access by audio, where
Joe Mixie and Steve Amedio will have the call for WVCR The Saint on today's radio broadcast. Click the corresponding links to follow along with today's game coverage.
Social media updates will be provided courtside throughout the day via the Saints' official twitter page @sienawomenshoop. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #MarchOn during the game.
Ten things to know for Saturday's game versus Quinnipiac:
- The Saints improved to 4-2 in MAAC play Saturday afternoon, taking down Monmouth, 77-68, on the road. Four players went for double figures in the victory, with senior Deja Rawls netting a career-high 21 points, while going 10-16 from the free throw line, both career marks as well. Juniors Maddie Sims and Sabrina Piper added 17 and 12 points respectively, while redshirt senior Aaliyah Jones, knocked down three triples en route to 15 points.
- Trailing by as many as 10 points late in the first quarter, Siena completed its fourth comeback win from a double-digit deficit this season. The team's resiliency marked the first time in at least 18 seasons (2001-02) that they have overcome at least four holes of 10 points of more to win a contest.
- As a result of Saturday's win, Head Coach Ali Jaques became the second women's head coach in program history to reach 60 conference victories (60-62). Currently in her seventh year at the helm, Jaques holds a 97-110 all-time record, now just three wins away from becoming the third coach in program history to eclipse the 100-win threshold.
- Siena has accumulated a 290-213 (.577) record in MAAC play all-time, including a 60-62 (.492) outcome under head coach Ali Jaques.
- For the second consecutive year, Siena was picked to finish third in the MAAC in the Preseason Coaches' Poll, with Maddie Sims (Second Team) and Aaliyah Jones (Third Team) earning Preseason All-MAAC honors.
- Adding two assists to her total on Thursday senior Deja Rawls moved into sole possession of 17th all-time in program history in assists with 280. Rawls needs one help to tie Michelle Heffern (281, 1993-95) for 16th place.
- With 74 rejections to her name, Maddie Sims needs four more blocks to enter the all-time top-10 in program history.
- Maddie Sims currently leads all players in the MAAC in double-doubles, with five so far this season, including three in conference play.
- Dating back to the 2013-14 campaign when the Bobcats joined the MAAC, Siena is 0-11 all-time against Quinnipiac, the only conference opponent that they have not defeated.
- The team will also look to halt an nine-game losing streak when competing in the state of Connecticut, having last won in the Nutmeg State on Feb. 21, 2015 over MAAC rival Fairfield in Alumni Hall.
