LOUDONVILLE, NY — Roughly 1,500 local schoolchildren will pack the UHY Center on Thursday morning to witness Siena Women's Basketball aim to extend its six-game winning streak when the Saints welcome Rider for an 11 a.m. tip-off.
 
Emmanuel Berbari and Brian Rubino will have the call on ESPN+, with Joe Lemery providing sideline reporting. Joe Puccio and Steve Amedio will be courtside for the call on WVCR 88.3 FM. General admission tickets, live stats, and courtside X updates are available via the corresponding links.
 
Siena aims to continue its best start to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play in 10 seasons, entering the matchup a perfect 4-0 in league action. The last time the Saints opened conference play unbeaten through five games was during the 2015–16 season, when Siena began 7-0. Overall, Siena's current six-game winning streak is tied for the 20^th longest in the nation, while its four-game conference winning streak is tied for 26^th.
 
The Saints have won each of their last six games by an average of 23.8 points, fueled by dominant rebounding, disruptive defense, and efficient shooting. Siena has recorded its five highest rebounding totals of the season during the streak, averaging 47.7 rebounds per game. The Saints have posted three games with 50-plus rebounds—the only MAAC team to accomplish the feat multiple times this season. Additionally, Siena has forced 28.7 turnovers per game over its last six contests and has recorded its four highest opponent turnover totals of the season during that span.
 
For a conference-high third time this season, freshman Francesca Schiro earned Air Force Reserve MAAC Rookie of the Week honors. Schiro nearly averaged a double-double during a 2-0 week, posting 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. She now ranks third in the MAAC at 16.6 points per game, a figure that also places her fourth nationally among freshmen. The rookie is second in the conference with five 20-point performances, trailing only Fairfield's Kaety L'Amoreaux (six).
 
Siena also received a double-double performance from Nicole Melious last week, as the junior tied a season-high with 19 points and set a career-best with 12 rebounds in the win over Iona. Melious recorded her third consecutive 15-plus-point outing in the Jan. 3 victory and has reached that mark in five of her last six games, averaging 15.3 points per game during the Saints' winning streak.
 
Freshman Kaiya Rain Tucker has emerged as another key contributor, particularly in conference play. Tucker is averaging 11.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in MAAC games and, after recording seven blocks over her last four outings, ranks sixth in the league at 1.1 blocks per game.
 
Notably, Melious, Schiro, and Tucker account for three of the 14 players in the MAAC to record a double-double this season.
 
After a decorated coaching career at Division III Arcadia, Jackie Hartzell leads the Broncs in her first season at the helm. Rider (2-12, 0-5 MAAC) enters the matchup searching for its first win since Dec. 2, having dropped seven straight contests. The Broncs have struggled offensively, ranking 10th in the MAAC and 340th nationally at 54.5 points per game. Kristina Ekofo leads Rider with 11.4 points per game, followed by Aliya McIver at 10.1. Despite the offensive struggles, Rider looks to generate offense from beyond the arc, ranking among the nation's top 90 teams in three-point attempts at 23.1 per game. To stay competitive, the Broncs will need to limit Siena's presence on the glass, as Rider has been outrebounded by 2.6 per game and ranks ninth in the MAAC at just under 35 rebounds per contest.
 
Siena owns one of its most lopsided series advantages in MAAC play against Rider, holding a 41–17 all-time edge. The Saints' .707 winning percentage against the Broncs is their highest against any conference opponent. Siena has won six straight meetings with Rider—tied for its second-longest active winning streak against a MAAC foe—and is 5-1 against the Broncs in Loudonville since the start of the decade. The Saints have won each of the last three meetings at the UHY Center by an average margin of 23.7 points.
 
Siena will remain home following Thursday's contest, hosting Merrimack at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10.