LOUDONVILLE, NY - Riding a season-long four-game winning streak, Siena Women's Basketball (14-10, 11-4 MAAC) prepares for its annual Western New York Trip this week, starting with a Thursday night clash against the Niagara Purple Eagles (1-21, 0-14 MAAC). Tip-off from Gallagher Center in Niagara University, NY is set for 6 p.m.
Ryan Maxwell and Howard Simon are on the ESPN+ call Thursday night, while Joe Puccio and Steve Amedio will be courtside for 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.
With its win over Sacred Heart Saturday night, the Saints officially secured their spot in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships. Siena, currently in third place, are one of four teams to have clinched a postseason berth - joining Fairfield (1st, 15-0), Quinnipiac (2nd, 13-2), and Mount St. Mary's (4th, 10-4). With four games separating the Saints and current seventh-place Merrimack in the loss column, the Green and Gold will look to soon secure a top-six seed and advance directly to the MAAC Quarterfinals - avoiding the MAAC First Round games on Mar. 11.
Anajah Brown enters the week off one of her finest performances of the season, posting a season-high 23 points and career-high six blocks in the team's 66-51 win over Sacred Heart Saturday night. The senior's numbers have slightly inflated over 15 MAAC games this season, averaging 11.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Brown has been a menace on the glass since the calendar turned to 2025, having at least five or more boards in 12 of 13 games played, as well as seven or more nine times.
While her made free throw streak came to an end Saturday,
Teresa Seppala is still on track to have a record-setting season from the charity stripe. Her .942 clip currently clears the previous Siena single-season record holder
Melissa Manzer, who shot .895 (68-76) from the line in 2007-08.
After a trip to the MAAC Championship game and the WNIT Second Round just one season ago, Niagara has struggled to find its footing this season at 1-21 overall, and 0-14 in league play. On the heels of 16 consecutive losses, the Purple Eagles strive for their first win since defeating Division II Bloomsburg 81-60 at home on Dec. 1. While Niagara ranks nearly last in the country allowing 80.7 PPG, the team's "Hurricane Havoc" style play forces the second-most turnovers per game in the nation at 25 per outing. Safiatu Kolliegbo comes up with the second-most steals per game in the MAAC with 2.3, and also leads the team scoring 13.3 per game. Earlier this season she scored 27 of Niagara's 57 points against the Saints, and also had six of the team's 18 steals.
The sides meet for the 92nd time on Thursday, with the Saints holding a 53-38 edge all-time in its most common series against any opponent. Gallagher Center has been challenging for Siena over the last handful of seasons as the Purple Eagles have won each of the last five games played on their home floor dating back to the 2017-18 season. The then-shorthanded Saints had the upper hand earlier this season with a 65-57 win on Dec. 19 in Loudonville. Four players dropped double figures, including 20 by Seppala, while both Brown and
Zyriah Price recorded a double-double. The teams combined for 63 turnovers and 46 fouls in the game - with Siena's 35 turnovers being its most in a game this year.
Siena will conclude its journey to Western New York at 1 p.m. Saturday at Canisius.
