FAIRFIELD, CT — Siena Women's Basketball fell 70-58 at Sacred Heart on Thursday, as the Pioneers shot 51.0% from the field and 42.9% from three.
 
Siena (6-10, 4-3 MAAC) jumped out to a 23-17 lead after one quarter, with balanced scoring and early hot hands. But the Saints went scoreless from the field in the second quarter, managing just four points, and trailed 37-27 at halftime.
 
Francesca Schiro led Siena with 17 points, going 6-for-20 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line. She also had three rebounds and an assist. Nicole Melious added 11 points on 3-of-9 three-point shooting and grabbed six rebounds. Garrisen Freeman scored 8, while Valencia Fontenelle-Posson had 7 points and a team-high 8 rebounds. Caydence Hadley and Alden Yergey each scored 6. Overall, Siena shot 30.8% (20-of-65) from the field and 18.2% (4-of-22) from beyond the arc.
 
Sacred Heart (7-9, 5-2 MAAC) was led by Amelia Wood with 21 points, Sophie Nascimento with 17 and Nalyce Dudley with 12. The Pioneers hit 6 of 14 threes and shot 66.7% from the free-throw line. Both their field goal and three-point percentages were their second highest in a game this season.
 
The Saints led 23-17 after the first quarter thanks to nearly 59% shooting from the field. However, after a slow second quarter, Siena made a pair of runs in the second half but could not cut into the lead enough to regain control. The Saints scored 15 in the third and 16 in the fourth, but Sacred Heart's efficiency and depth proved decisive.
 
Siena returns home to host Saint Peter's on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 2 p.m. at the UHY Center.