LOUDONVILLE, NY - Siena Women's Basketball opens its 36th Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) season Thursday for the fourth of six consecutive home games this month when the Saints (3-5) welcome Niagara (1-7) to the UHY Center for a 6 p.m. tip-off. 
 
Kelly O'Donnell and Brian Rubino will have the ESPN+ broadcast, while Joe Puccio and Steve Amedio will have the call locally on WVCR 88.3 FM. Tickets, live stats, international stream, and courtside X updates can be found by clicking the corresponding links. 
 
Siena's MAAC-opening slate tips off the Catholic Charities Christmas Series, which includes the next three Siena Men's and Women's Basketball home games against Catholic institutions in the week leading up to Christmas. All fans who donate to Catholic Charities at any of these games can secure a special voucher either to purchase a ticket for just $12.25 to see the men host archrival Iona on Sunday, Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. at MVP Arena, or for a complimentary ticket to a women's regular season home game.
 
Siena aims to bounce back following its first loss since Nov. 23, as well as get its redemption on Niagara after falling to the Purple Eagles in the MAAC Semifinals last season. Despite the loss on Sunday, a pair of Saints continued their season double-digit scoring streaks in Ahniysha Jackson and Teresa Seppala - who are both at five consecutive games. Over the stretch, Jackson is averaging 16.4 points per game, and Seppala 16.2. 
 
Aside from this season alone, Seppala's double-digit scoring stretch sits at 14 games dating back to Feb. 15, 2024, starting against Niagara. Jackson's seven 10-point outings this season are her most over her first eight games to start a season in her career. 
 
Two Saints are quickly approaching milestones as well, with Anajah Brown 11 rebounds away from hitting 500 for her career, and Jackson 76 points away from becoming the 30th player in program history to reach 1,000. Jackson is also three games away from appearing in the 100th of her Siena career. 
 
Picked to finish third in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Niagara is 1-7 to start the season with the team's lone win coming over Division II Bloomsburg. Allowing 91.3 points per game to opponents, Niagara ranks 352nd of 353 Division I teams, and is one of just two in the country to allow 90+ PPG per outing. Preseason All-MAAC First Team selection Aaliyah Parker has yet to appear this season, leaving the likes of juniors Marlie Dickerson (12.3 PPG) and Amelia Strong (11.3 PPG) to command the fourth-ranked offense in the MAAC (63.8 PPG)
 
Siena Leads the all-time series between the teams, 52-38, entering the 91st meeting. Having met 90 times prior to Thursday, the Saints have clashed with Niagara more times than against any other opponent in program history. The teams have split the regular season series in each of the last two seasons, with each team winning on their home court both times. Since the 2000-01 season, Siena is 18-6 against Niagara in Loudonville. 
 
Niagara claimed the last matchup, 87-70, on Mar. 15, 2024 in the MAAC Semifinals in Atlantic City, NJ. 
 
The Saints are 16-19 all-time in MAAC openers, and 2-2 in such games against the Purple Eagles.
 
Following Saturday, the Saints welcome another Western New York opponent in Canisius to the UHY Center at 2 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 21. Tickets for the game can be purchased here.