LOUDONVILLE, NY - Upstate New York opponents are set to meet for the first time in 44 seasons on Monday when Siena Women's Basketball (5-5, 2-0 MAAC) hosts the Cornell Big Red (3-9, 0-0 Ivy League) at 6 p.m. from the UHY Center.
Kelly O'Donnell and Brian Rubino have the call on ESPN+, while Joe Puccio and Steve Amedio will provide the local broadcast on WVCR 88.3 FM. Tickets, international stream, live stats, and courtside X updates can be found by clicking on the corresponding links.
Siena's month-long homestand has served the team well, winning four of five heading into Monday. Compared to the team's first five games of the season, four of which played on the road, the Saints have seen an increase in points per game (64.2 from 58.4), three-point percentage (.360% from .263%), free throw percentage (.842% from .640%), and total steals (48 from 32). Over the last three games alone, Siena has hit 43 of 53 free throws - the highest three-game percentage the team has had this year (.810%).
Teresa Seppala's double-digit scoring streak reached a 16th consecutive game following last Saturday's win over Canisius, also scoring 15 or more points in 13 of those 16 outings. Not to be lost by her .446 shooting percentage from the floor and .432 clip from three, the junior's .957 percentage from the free throw line (22-23) is on pace to be a career high – currently topping her previous mark of .786 set last year.
Zyriah Price has taken her game up a notch over her last six games, averaging 10 points (.683 FG%) and 7.7 rebounds per game. She's reached 10 or more points in three consecutive games, as well as in four of her last six, and has notched a pair of double-doubles dating back to Nov. 26.
The Saints also enter Monday with All-MAAC talent
Anajah Brown fresh off her second consecutive 10-plus rebound game. Of her 46 boards this season, a team-high 24 have come on the offensive end of the floor. The senior is also one point away from eclipsing 700 for her career.
Ahniysha Jackson inched closer to the 1,000 career point mark as well with her seventh consecutive 10-plus point game last Saturday, and ninth overall on the season.
Under first-year head coach Emily Garner, Cornell is off to a 3-9 start to its 2024-25 season. The Big Red will be in search of their first win since defeating Mercyhurst in overtime, 64-63, at home on Nov. 27, while its other two wins came early in the season to common opponents in Army West Point (60-54), and Binghamton (68-51). Emily Pape (12.8 PPG) and Summer Parker-Hall (11.8 PPG) are the lone players averaging double figures in points while also serving as the leading rebounders (Pape 7.0, Parker-Hall 6.5).
Despite being separated by just over 160 miles, Siena and Cornell will meet for only the fourth time ever come Monday. The Saints claimed victory in each of the previous three games, including an 80-52 win in the most recent matchup on Dec. 5, 1980 in Loudonville. With that, Monday marks the first time the teams meet with Siena playing as a Division I program. Each of the previous three meetings from 1978-80 came when Siena competed at the Division II level, with the Saints winning the three games by an average of 26.3 points.
Siena will prepare for its first away game since Nov. 26 when the team travels to Riverdale, NY to take on Manhattan. Tip-off from Draddy Gymnasium is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
