LOUDONVILLE, NY - For the first time in 41 seasons, Siena Women's Basketball will travel to West Point, NY, to take on the Army Black Knights. The Empire State foes are set to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday night at Christl Arena.
Despite the result in their most recent outing on Nov. 8, the Saints responded with their most efficient shooting performance of the early season. The Green & Gold shot 41.4% for the game, posting a 50% clip from the field in the second half, which included a 60% mark in the fourth quarter.
The Green & Gold also improved from deep in its second game of the season, shooting 38.1% for the game. The Saints are up to 25% (10-40) from three through two games, up from 17.2% (5-29) through their first two games last season.
Reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Week
Francesca Schiro poured in a career- and game-high 28 points on 8-for-16 shooting from the field and 2-for-3 from three in the game. Her 28 points scored were the third-most in a single game in the MAAC this season and the most among rookies—11 more than the next. She also led the team with six assists—tied for a single-game MAAC high this season— and three steals in the game and added four rebounds to her line. Entering the week (11-10-25), Schiro ranks fifth in the MAAC in both scoring (17 PPG) and assists (3.5 APG).
Genevive Wedemeyer also enjoyed a career day with 13 points, shooting an efficient 5-for-7 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from deep. It was the first time in her three-year collegiate career scoring in double figures, while her seven field goals were tied for a career single-game high.
First-year head coach Katie Kuester's Black Knights are off to a 2-0 start this season with a victory over Division II Pace and a road win against St. Thomas. Three players have averaged 15+ points through two games, led by Kya Smith's 17.5, while the junior is nearly averaging a double-double with a team-high 9.5 rebounds. Taylor Wilson (15.5) and Reese Ericson (15.0) have also heavily aided an offense averaging 76.5 points. Defensively, the Black Knights surrendered 50 points to Pace and 61 to St. Thomas, while finishing +25 on the boards overall between the two games.
Thursday night's matchup marks just the sixth all-time meeting between the Empire State opponents, with Army West Point holding a 4-1 edge in the series. After the Saints won the first meeting between programs 47-46 on Jan. 16, 1980, the Black Knights went on to take each of the ensuing four, including a 66-56 win in last season's opener at the UHY Center. This will be Siena's first trip to West Point, NY, since the 1984-85 season opener on Nov. 20, 1984.
Justin Rocke will have the call on ESPN+, while Joe Puccio and Steve Amedio will have the local broadcast on WVCR 88.3 FM. Live stats, tickets, and courtside X updates can be found by clicking on the corresponding links.
Following Army West Point, the Saints return home to host Dartmouth at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16.
