WASHINGTON, D.C. - Playing in its first postseason game in 10 years, Siena Women's Basketball took on the Howard Bison in the Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Friday evening from Burr Gymnasium on the campus of Howard University. Behind a 42-26 scoring differential in the final 20 minutes of play, the Bison topped the Saints 72-62 to advance to the second round and face the College of Charleston.  
 
Teresa Seppala and Anajah Brown notched double-doubles - Seppala with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Brown with 12 points and a game-high 13 boards in her final game as a Saints. Also playing her final game in the Green and Gold was Ahniysha Jackson, who tied Seppala with a team-high 17 points. Myriam Traore added eight off the bench, while Aniya Hooker tied a game-high with five assists. 
 
Offenses mirrored one another throughout the first, each shooting just over 42% from the floor while struggling from three. Siena's 20-17 difference entering the second quarter was fueled by a 9-3 edge on fast break points, as well as a 17-6 advantage on rebounds over a Howard team that entered the game 34th nationally in boards per game. 
 
Scoring slowed down to open the second, with the Bison out-scoring the Saints just 8-5 over the opening 5:30 of action to even the score at 25-25 at the media timeout. From that moment, however, Traore and Seppala combined for nine points on an 11-5 run to close the half and help lead Siena into the break with a 36-30 lead. 
 
Howard held Siena to 1-6 from the floor to begin the second half, and thanks to 6-8 shooting from the line cut its deficit to just one point with under five minutes to play in the third. With the work of Brown in the paint, the Saints maintained their slim advantage until the Bison tied the game at 45 with 3:18 to play. From there, back-to-back Kaiya Creek threes put Howard up by six with two to play in the third, and eventually a 54-47 lead through three full. 
 
The Saints stormed right back in the fourth though. Backed by Seppala and Jackson combining for all 11 points on 4-6 shooting from the field, and 3-3 from three, the Saints crept back within two points at 60-58 with just under six minutes to play. 
 
However, the press of the Bison stifled Siena from there as the hosts bested the Green and Gold 12-4 down the stretch to come out with a 10 point victory. 
 
The first season under head coach Terry Primm led to the program's sixth-ever postseason berth, and fourth in the WNIT. Primm led the Saints to their second consecutive No. 3 seed in the MAAC Tournament, as well as four All-MAAC selections in Seppala (unanimous First Team), Jackson (Second Team), Brown (Third Team), and Traore (All-Rookie Team). Seppala and Jackson also became members of the 1,000-point club, while Brown joined exclusive company as just the sixth player to achieve both 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in her career.
 
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.