JERSEY CITY, NJ - Siena Women's Basketball shook some early rust to overcome a 12-point deficit in its 68-60 win over the Saint Peter's Peacocks from Run Baby Run Arena on Thursday evening. The win marked the program's 350th all-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) victory. 
 
Teresa Seppala led the way for Siena (11-10, 8-4 MAAC) with 23 points, nine boards and a career-high six assists. Ahniysha Jackson poured in 13 points (5-10) with four assists, while Myriam Traore and Anajah Brown each totaled 10 points. Like Seppala, Brown just missed a double-double after grabbing nine boards. 
 
Fatmata Janneh accounted for 26 of Saint Peter's (6-14, 4-7 MAAC) points in the game. The Peacocks also had a lead for 21:26 of game time compared to Siena's 16:17. The 12-point deficit also served as the Saints' largest overcome in a win this season.


The opening quarter went just over six minutes before a break in the action, with Saint Peter's making the most of its nine early possessions to lead 9-5 with 3:55 to play in the frame. The Saints surrendered four points to the Peacocks off turnovers, and allowed eight points in the paint as the deficit remained four points entering the second at 12-8. 
 
A quick Brown layup to open the second followed by a three-pointer by Jackson pushed Siena back into a one-point lead, but the Peacocks responded with a 12-0 run that spanned just under four minutes to jump out to a 24-13 advantage. 
 
The Saints chipped away to finish the half, however, to enter halftime down by just five points. In the team's 13-7 run over the final 4:56 of play, the team shot 6-6 from the field while Brown and Jackson accounted for four points each. Janneh of Saint Peter's scored 18 of the team's 31 first half points, and also recorded four of the Peacocks' nine rebounds. 
 
Hot hands carried over into the third quarter as Jackson drilled a shot from the three-point wing, closing the gap to two. That set the tone for the remainder of the frame, as Siena went on to shoot 6-9 from the floor while holding Saint Peter's to 33.3% (4-12) - out-scoring them 19-11 to hang on to a 45-42 lead going into the fourth.  
 
For each Saint Peter's move in the final quarter of play, the Saints had an answer. The trend lasted until the Saints crawled out to an eight-point lead inside of two minutes to go. Playing the foul game, the Peacocks applied pressure on the Saints late - causing the Green and Gold to miss four from the line down the stretch and come within three points with 32 seconds to go. 
 
Saint Peter's had no choice but to send the nation's best free throw shooter in Seppala to the line looking to close the game though, as the junior nailed each of her four looks over the final 30 ticks to put a stamp on the night. 
 
Siena returns home at 2 p.m. Saturday to host Rider for its annual Gold Rush Game, as well as for National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
 
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.