FAIRFIELD, CT - In a battle between two of the top-three teams in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), Siena Women's Basketball and the Fairfield Stags met on prime time Thursday night on ESPNU. Aided by a plus-10 second half margin, the Stags (25-3, 19-0 MAAC) topped the Saints (17-11, 14-5 MAAC) 62-49 from Leo D. Mahoney Arena. 
 
Fairfield clinched the MAAC regular season title with the win, securing the top-seed in the tournament. Siena has the third-seed locked up, and still awaits to see who its sixth-seeded opponent will be.  
 
Ahniysha Jackson had a game-high 20 points, followed by Myriam Traore with 12, and Aniya Hooker with nine. Traore also led the team with 11 points to secure her first career double-double. Teresa Seppala and Anajah Brown followed with 11 on the glass each. 
 
Backed by 3-5 shooting from the floor, 2-4 from deep, and five points from two Siena turnovers, the Stags opened up to a 10-0 lead through the 3:30 of play. The Saints settled in through the remainder of the quarter. Five points from Jackson, and a four by Hooker helped pull the Green and Gold within eight entering the second. 
 
The Saints were able to limit their turnovers during the start of the second quarter - going from nine in the first to one over the opening five minutes of the fresh frame. For this, the team gained four extra looks on offense than the Stags to keep within eight. As the remainder of the half progressed, Siena kept Fairfield off the board for the final 2:09 - aiding in a 5-0 run to enter the break trailing by just three at 32-29.
 
By the break, Jackson was up to 14 points and, with two three-pointers, tied the all-time program record. The Saints were within three despite leading scorer Seppala being held without a field goal attempt. 
 
Fairfield came out with a slight edge through the opening three minutes of the second half - shooting 2-4 from the field to Siena's 1-6 to create some extra separation. Willed by eight third quarter Traore points paired with holding the Stags to 3-11 from the floor over the rest of the half, Siena kept themselves in the game as Fairfield took a 48-41 lead into the final 10 minutes. 
 
Come the fourth, the Stags used a 12-2 run to open the first 5:30 - gaining its largest lead of the game to that point at 17 and never looked back. Siena chipped away netting six down the stretch to come within 13 by the end of the night. 
 
Siena concludes its regular season at home Saturday against Manhattan. Tip-off from the UHY Center is set for 2 p.m., with a pregame ceremony to honor seniors Anajah Brown and Valencia Fontenelle-Posson, graduate student Ahniysha Jackson, and manager Elijah Patterson to happen prior to tip.
 
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.