BUFFALO, NY - For the first time in eight seasons, Siena Women's Basketball went into Gallagher Center and topped the Niagara Purple Eagles. Freshman Aniya Hooker played hero with the game-winning layup with under one second remaining to deliver the Saints a 66-64 victory Thursday evening. 
 
Siena (15-10, 12-4 MAAC) extended its winning streak to a season-long five games. In doing so, the team secured a first round bye in the upcoming Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament. Niagara dropped to 1-22 overall, and 0-15 in the MAAC. 
 
Teresa Seppala registered team-highs with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Anajah Brown and Zyriah Price finished in double-figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Brown, Price, and Myriam Traore each came down with seven rebounds in the game. 
 
Niagara's pressure worked in its favor early on, aiding in a 9-4 lead out of the gates through the first five minutes. The Saints settled in throughout the remainder of the quarter, out-scoring the Purple Eagles 11-2 on the heels of five Seppala points, and the defense holding Niagara to just 1-7 from the floor down the stretch. Eight of the Saints' 11 points allowed in the frame came off seven turnovers, however. 
 
Siena returned the favor defensively to open the second, keeping Niagara off the board through nearly the first four minutes. As the quarter progressed the Saints continued to stifle the Purple Eagles with just four points allowed with under three to play. 
 
Ahead 28-15 with 2:46 left in the half, Niagara cut into its deficit going into the locker room with a slight 7-2 run as the Saints led 30-22 midway through. A total of 10 of Siena's 15 second quarter points came from the charity stripe. 
 
The Purple Eagles' hot finish to the first half bled over into the second. Niagara opened the third shooting 6-10 while holding Siena to 3-10 from the floor - closing the gap to 39-36 at the 4:33 mark of the quarter. While the Saints ended the third on a slightly higher note from the floor, the Purple Eagles were able to grab their first lead since the first quarter and enter the fourth up by one, 46-45. 
 
Niagara extended its lead to open the fourth, scoring six of the first eight points of the frame. Seppala was able to draw contact on a pull-up shot near the six-minute mark and, after sinking both free throws, brought the game back within three points. 
 
Not long after, Price fed Brown inside for an easy bucket before Traore knocked down a corner three to tie the game 54 with 4:47 to play. However, Niagara scored the next five points - going up 59-54 with four minutes to play. 
 
The Saints answered back with back-to-back layups by Brown and Price, making it a one point game with just under three to play. The sides exchanged twos before a Niagara three made it a four-point Siena deficit with 1:14 to play. On the next trip down, Brown sank a layup to bring the score within two at 64-62. 
 
Needing a stop, the Saints defense came up and forced a shot clock violation - taking over possession down by two with 29.7 seconds left. Just 10 seconds in, Price drove the lane and made a layup to tie the game, setting Niagara up with the final possession. There, the Saints forced a jump ball - giving possession back to the Green and Gold. 
 
With Hooker inbounding the final play, the freshman came in and received the pass from classmate Traore. Upson doing so, she attacked the rim and sank the game-winning layup. Upon review, 0.3 seconds were added - but Niagara was unable to get a shot off with the added time. 
 
Siena concludes its Western New York trip at 1 p.m. Saturday against Canisius.
 
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.