HAMDEN, CT — Siena Women's Basketball (11-13, 9-6 MAAC) dropped a 62-40 decision to first-place Quinnipiac Bobcats (21-4, 16-0 MAAC) Thursday night at M&T Bank Arena, as the Bobcats broke things open with a 21-8 fourth quarter.
 
Despite the loss, Siena officially clinched a MAAC Championships berth following Rider Broncs' setback against Saint Peter's Peacocks later in the evening.
 
The Saints set the tone early by attacking the paint and controlling the glass. Siena held its own throughout the opening quarter and trailed just 15-12 after 10 minutes. In the second, the Saints kept the pressure on defensively and cut the deficit to three on multiple occasions, staying within striking distance before Quinnipiac carried a 30-24 advantage into halftime.
 
Siena again made a push midway through the third quarter. Back-to-back baskets from Kaiya Rain Tucker and Caydence Hadley trimmed the margin to 32-28 and forced the Bobcats to respond. Quinnipiac answered with a key run late in the frame, capitalizing on transition opportunities to extend the lead to 41-32 entering the fourth.
 
The Bobcats' depth and defensive pressure proved decisive in the final period, as they limited Siena's second-chance looks and converted consistently inside to pull away.
 
Tucker led the Saints with her second career double-double, totaling 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, including six on the offensive glass. Hadley added 10 points and six boards, while Nicole Melious and Alden Yergey each contributed eight points. Siena battled on the boards and in the paint throughout, but Quinnipiac's late surge created the separation.
 
The Saints return to action Saturday at Merrimack with a 2 p.m. tipoff.