LOUDONVILLE, NY - It was a day of destiny for Siena Women's Basketball. The team had not hoisted the Albany Cup since Dec. 7, 2019 - but exactly five years later, the cup made its rightful return to Loudonville. The Saints topped previously undefeated UAlbany 70-65 from the UHY Center on Saturday afternoon to earn local bragging rights over their crosstown foes.  
 
Siena picked up its third consecutive victory to move to 3-4, while the Great Danes were handed their first blemish to drop to 7-1 on the season. 
 
Ahniysha Jackson poured in a game and season-high 23 points on 9-17 shooting from the floor, and 3-5 from three. The graduate student shined bright when it mattered most, putting together her best shooting performance of the season from the floor (.529) and beyond the arc (.600). 
 
Teresa Seppala notched 17 points on 7-16 shooting (2-4 from three), while KB Hadley scored a season-high 15 points to go with a team-high two steals, while tying the team lead with three assists. On the glass, Ana Conde registered nine crucial rebounds, while Seppala came down with eight. 
 
Siena scored over half (40) of its points in the paint, while besting UAlbany in points off turnovers (20-8), and second chance points (21-8). 
 
Following an early 12-5 UAlbany lead midway through the first quarter, the likes of Jackson (seven), Seppala (five), and Hadley (four) fueled a 25-11 Saints run that went until the 4:34 mark in the second quarter. With Siena ahead 30-20 at the time, the Great Danes closed the half on a slight 9-6 edge to enter the break with the Saints ahead, 36-29. 
 
UAlbany chipped away further in the third quarter, out-scoring the Saints 19-14 in the 10-minute span. The Great Danes eventually tied the score at 48-48 as all looked to go into the fourth tied up. However, Hadley was fouled with 0.9 seconds left while shooting a three and, after cashing in on two, gave the Saints a 50-48 edge entering the final 10 minutes.
 
Just over 30 seconds into the fourth, Jackson knocked down a three-pointer that extended Siena's lead to five, and one that the team never relinquished. 
 
Seppala and Hadley provided timely three-point buckets down the stretch to keep the Saints ahead, while Aniya Hooker sealed the deal with 10 seconds to go on the free throw line. 
 
Siena continues its month-long homestand on Sun., Dec. 15 against Binghamton. Tip-off from the UHY Center is set for 2 p.m.
 
This post-game recap is proudly presented by The Brothers that just do Gutters, a proud partner of Siena Athletics. Trust the team that always comes through—on the court and for your home.