LOUDONVILLE, NY – Strong play in the first half was the key for the Siena Saints on Saturday afternoon, as they grabbed win number one on the season as they defeated the Rider Broncs by a final score of 73-64. The win would snap a four-game losing streak to the Broncs in the process.
 
Graduate student Isis Young led the way with a career-high 23 points with four three pointers. She also dished out four assists in the win, with senior Rayshel Brown adding 16 points to continue her scoring prowess to begin the season. Junior Lala Watts fell just one point shy of a double-double, putting up nine points with 12 rebounds to continue her streak of double-digit rebounds in each of the first three games. Classmate Amari Anthony also fell one point and one rebound shy of a double-double with a nine point, nine rebound performance in her first action of the season.
 
For Rider, Maya Hyacienth scored 12 points to lead the Broncs in that department, while Victoria Toomey, Mikayla Firebaugh, and Menaejha Evans each scored 11 as well. Daija Moses would score nine points with a team-high 10 rebounds. Toomey would add seven rebounds and a pair of blocks to her stat line as well.
 
The Saints jumped out to a solid lead early on, as Young got in a scoring groove early knocking down a pair of three pointers. With just under four minutes to go in the first quarter, junior Margo Peterson would do the same to push the Saint lead out to six, giving them some cushion. That cushion would grow in the second quarter.
 
Despite the second frame starting tied at 19-19, the Saints pulled out to a nine point lead after a put-back bucket from freshman Ahniysha Jackson with 6:37 to play in the frame. Holding an eight point lead at the media timeout, the Green and Gold would outscore the Broncs over the final five minutes of the quarter to hold a 51-33 lead at the half. It would be the most points the Saints have scored in a half since Jan. 6 of last season when they scored 50 against Saint Peter's.
 
The Saints struggled in the second half, being held scoreless for a 10-minute period from the third quarter until Isis Young hit a three-pointer with 3:11 to play in the fourth quarter. The Saints would only allow nine points across that time frame as well, maintaining a nine point lead after the Young three-pointer. With 1:48 to play, Rider would manage to cut the lead to four points to make the score 65-61. But the Saints would execute at the free throw line down the stretch and force missed shots from Rider, as they held on for the 73-64 victory.
 
The Broncs outscored the Saints in the paint 32-30, but the Saints controlled most other categories. The Green and Gold would score 16 second-chance points, as well as score 25 points on the fast break.
 
The Saints return to action tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM when they play host to the Broncs to close out the weekend. Fans can tune in via ESPN3 or listen on the radio to 88.3 The Saint.