HAMDEN, CT - Despite a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Siena Women's Basketball refused to shy away from the second-place team in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Saints battled back to come within three points of the Quinnipiac Bobcats however, the final horn had sounded in the team's 77-74 loss from M&T Bank Arena Saturday afternoon. 
 
Teresa Seppala led the Saints (10-10, 7-4 MAAC) with 23 points, including 9-9 shooting from the free throw line. She also topped the team with four assists. Ahniysha Jackson totaled 19 points, 12 of which coming from beyond the arc, while Myriam Traore dropped a career-high 15 and led the team with six rebounds. 
 
Gal Raviv scored a game-high 32 points for the Bobcats, who improved to 17-3 overall, and 9-2 in league play. 
 
Fast paced attacks dictated the opening portion of the first quarter, with the sides firing off 10 or more shots each through the first six minutes. However, defenses counteracted as both teams shot within 30% through the timeframe. With some key buckets from Traore and Jackson down the stretch, the Saints and Bobcats escaped the first deadlocked at 14. 
 
While pace of play continued into the second quarter, shots also began to fall at a higher rate. Both sides increased their point total to over 20 thanks to over 60% shooting from the field - Siena 61.5 (8-13), and Quinnipiac 61.1 (11-18). While Quinnipiac looked to close out the half with a seven-point edge, Traore had other plans. 
 
Just as she did at Sacred Heart earlier this month, the freshman sank a half-court buzzer-beater for her 12th point of the half – bringing the Saints within four at the break, 40-36. Jackson and Seppala also added eight points each by halftime. 
 
Siena rode the momentum from Traore's buzzer-beater into the third, scoring seven of the first 10 points of the frame to draw even thanks to a pair of Bobcat turnovers. From that point, however, Quinnipiac went on a 10-2 run to take its largest lead of the game to that point, and it remained an eight-point Siena deficit entering the fourth at 59-51. 
 
Quinnipiac opened its lead to 10 with just under eight minutes remaining in the game before a Seppala mid-range and Jackson three from the top of the key cut it to five points with 6:19 to play. Along with some crucial misses down the stretch, the Saints were also matched by the Bobcats on essentially each basket, making little room to overcome the deficit. 
 
Siena travels to Jersey City, NJ at 7 p.m. Thursday to take on Saint Peter's from Run Baby Run Arena.
 
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.