BUFFALO, NY – After seeing its longest win streak in 21 years come to a close, Siena Women's Basketball will look to end its Western New York swing on a high note on Saturday afternoon. The Saints (13-9, 10-4) head to Main Street to face Canisius (13-10, 8-6) in search of a regular season series split at the Koessler Athletic Center on Saturday, February 17 at 1 PM.
Saturday's contest can be viewed on ESPN+, and can be heard locally on 88.3 FM The Saints or anywhere on iHeartRadio. Pregame coverage tips off at 12:30 PM, with the radio "Voice of the Saints"
Joe Mixie on the call. Fans can also follow along with the corresponding live stats link, while continuous in-game press row updates will be provided via the women's basketball team's official X page @Siena_WBB. Join the conversation by using the hashtags #MarchOn, #SienaSaints, and #MAACHoops.
The Saints saw their longest win streak in 21 years come to a close Thursday evening with an 84-70 loss at Niagara, who forced a split in the regular season series. Siena took its first loss in its 13th game this season when leading at the half, with the Purple Eagles holding a definitive 53-34 advantage in the second half of play. Reigning MAAC Player of the Week
Anajah Brown led the way with 22 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, and a career-high seven steals, while sophomore
London Gamble added 13 points and classmates
Elisa Mevius and
Teresa Seppala added ten apiece. Niagara also held advantages in rebounds, paint points, bench points, and fast break points.
The Green and Gold started 7-3 in the MAAC in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 2001-02 and 2002-03 campaigns, and started 10-3 in the league for the first time since the 2002-03 campaign. The Saints won seven straight games from Jan 18 - Feb. 10 for the first time since winning ten-in-a-row during the 2002-03 season, which marks the program's most recent appearance in the MAAC Championship Game.
The Saints have recorded 70 points or more in each of the last nine games, which is tied for the program's second-longest streak and is the longest since a record ten straight games of doing so during the 1994-95 season. The Green and Gold have also shot 40 percent or better from the floor in 11 straight games.
After recording a career-high 33 points on February 8 at Iona, junior
Anajah Brown took home her second MAAC Player of the Week award on February 12, becoming the first Siena player to win multiple MAAC Player of the Week awards since the 2016-17 season. Brown's 33-point outburst against Iona on February 8 was good for only the 15th single-game performance of 33 points or more in program history, and just the fourth this millennium. It was the first single-game output of 33 points since 2017, and the second 30-point performance by a Saint this season.
Continuing the program's 50
th varsity season, sophomore
Elisa Mevius and Brown continue to rank at or near the top of the MAAC and among the national leaders in multiple statistical categories. Mevius leads the league and is second nationally in both steals per-game (4.27), and total steals (94), and is also 40th nationally in minutes per-game (35.2). The Rendsburg, Germany native also now leads the league in assists per-game (4.6) and total assists (102). Brown leads the league in both blocks per-game (1.68) and is second in total blocks (37). Mevius is currently fourth all-time in single-season history in steals, and is now just five steals away from setting the single-season record. She has also recorded the most assists by a Siena player through 22 games in the last 23 years, while Brown has the second-most blocks over that time and is three blocks away from entering the single-season top ten list.
Siena and Canisius are set to meet for the 85
th time in program history, with the Saints owning a 57-27 all-time advantage since 1980. Siena will look to avenge a loss in its 2023-24 MAAC opener to the opponent it has won the most against in its 50-year varsity history. The Golden Griffins stole a game at the UHY Center in December thanks to a trip to the free throw line with 1.2 seconds to play. Siena shot 46 percent from the field but gave up 11 three-point shots in the loss. Mevius led three players in double-digit scoring with 21 points, while sophomore Seppala registered a double-double of 14 & 12 and sophomore Gamble added 11 points. The Saints have still won three of the last four and eight of the last ten meetings, and will look to win in Buffalo for the fourth time in the last five tries. Head coach
Jim Jabir is 9-4 all-time against Canisius, including 7-4 while coaching at Siena.
Currently tied for fourth in the MAAC standings after being selected ninth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, Canisius followed up a loss at Mount St. Mary's with a 68-52 home win over Marist Thursday evening. The Griffs are 5-5 in their last ten MAAC games, but boast the conference's top three-point shooting percentage at 34.7 percent and average 7.6 three's per-game. Led by third-year head coach Sahar Nusseibeh, the team boasts the top rebounder and second leading scorer in the league in sophomore Sisi Eleko (7.7 & 15.7), who leads the league with 12 double-doubles this season.
