LOUDONVILLE, NY — Siena Women's Basketball wraps up its stretch of home games against Western New York opponents this weekend, as the Saints welcome Canisius to the UHY Center for a 2 p.m. tip on Saturday.
Tickets for Saturday's game are available via the corresponding link. Kelly O'Donnell and Brian Rubino will have the call on ESPN+, with Joe Lemery providing sideline reporting. Joe Puccio and Steve Amedio will handle the local broadcast on WVCR 88.3 FM. Live stats and courtside X updates will also be available through the corresponding links.
Siena will welcome back alumni for Saturday's game, with complimentary admission for former Saints. Adult tickets are $15, while children 12 and under are $10. A gameday ticket also includes access to the new VIP section, featuring prime sightlines, traditional gameday food, and a cash bar. Following the game, alumni and friends will have the opportunity to meet the current team and coaching staff.
Saturday also marks Family Day at the UHY Center. Following the game, children and their families are invited onto the court to shoot free throws and take photos.
The Saints are coming off their third game this season shooting 50% or better from the field, with four players shooting at least 45% in Thursday's win:
Francesca Schiro (7-of-10),
Nicole Melious (8-of-17),
Alden Yergey (5-of-11), and
Kaiya Rain Tucker (4-of-7).
Schiro continues to anchor Siena's offense, while Melious has emerged as a key contributor in conference play. Schiro recorded 23 points Thursday — her eighth 20-point game of the season — to go along with eight rebounds and seven assists, while Melious added 20 points, her first 20-point performance of the year. The duo ranks among the MAAC's top 10 scorers in conference games, with Schiro second at 18.7 points per game and Melious ninth at 14.1.
Canisius enters Saturday on a four-game skid, holding a 3-17 overall record and a 1-10 mark in MAAC play. The Golden Griffins average 54.3 points per game while allowing nearly 70, ranking near the bottom of the conference in both scoring offense and defense. Forward Shariah Gailes leads Canisius with 13.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while guard Franka Wittenberg paces the team in assists.
Siena earned its 60th all-time victory over Canisius with a 73-56 win on Dec. 21. The Saints' 60 wins against the Golden Griffins are their most against any MAAC opponent, while their 68.2 winning percentage (60-28) is the second-highest against any league foe (Rider – 69.5%). Saturday marks the 89th all-time meeting between the programs, with Siena riding a three-game winning streak in the series. Melious scored a then season-high 19 points in the Dec. 21 matchup, shooting 50% (9-of-18) from the field.
Following Saturday's contest, Siena hits the road to face Saint Peter's at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, in Jersey City, NJ.
