LOUDONVILLE, NY  – The Siena Saints women's basketball program and head coach Ali Jaques inked two student-athletes to NLI's during the NCAA early signing period beginning on Wednesday, as Ahniysha Jackson and Chantell Gonzalez have each committed to playing for the Green and Gold starting in the fall of 2020. The duo are the first signees of the class.
 
"We are excited to sign two very unique young ladies to the Siena women's basketball family," said Jaques. "Ahniysha is someone we have had our eye on ever since she attended our summer camp when I was first hired here, and Chantell has god given gifts that many people on this earth do not have."
 
Jackson, an Albany High School product, made Times Union second-team all-area and first team all-league from the Suburban Council Season Awards last year as a junior. Also referred to by the nickname Baby, she averaged 17 points per game to lead Albany to the Section II Class AA semifinals, where they fell to Saratoga High School. The 5-8 guard is the 49^th ranked guard in New York State according to MaxPreps.com.
 
"As she progressed through high school and AAU she developed on the defensive end of the court, and it became obvious she would be a great fit for our program," added Jaques on Jackson. "Baby and her family really value what it means to be at Siena. Signing a local player with her work ethic, toughness, and character is important. Hopefully she will inspire more local players like her to want to be Saints!"
 
Gonzalez, a 6-8 center, comes to Loudonville from Miami Country Day school in Florida, the No. 1-ranked girls' basketball team in the nation last season according to ESPN.com. She would average 4.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks for the Spartans. She would help the squad to the Class 4A Championship, the sixth straight title the Spartans have won, defeating Carrollwood Day School. In that game, Gonzalez would finish with six points, eight rebounds and five blocks. Her squad would travel to New York City this past April to partake in the Geico National High School basketball tournament.

Jaques said, "I cannot wait to get on the court with Chantell and help her work to be the player she wants to be. She comes from an extremely successful high school program, and after getting to know her through the recruiting process, we knew she would be a natural fit at Siena."