Siena women's basketball quelled by Quinnipiac on Kids Day
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LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- In front of its first sold out crowd in six seasons, Siena women’s basketball fell short against the MAAC-leading Quinnipiac Bobcats, 69-51, from the UHY Center on Thursday afternoon.
Anajah Brown scored a season-high 18 points while coming down with 11 boards for her second double-double of the season. Ahniysha Jackson netted a game-high 22 points in 37 minutes of action. Although she was held to under 10 points for the first time since last February, Teresa Seppala was still a factor on defense for the Saints - grabbing a team-high nine defensive rebounds, and registering a team-high two steals. Newcomer Peppi Lohko logged 15 minutes as well, coming down with five rebounds in her collegiate debut.
Quinnipiac (13-1, 5-0 MAAC) had four players net double figures in points, none more than Karson Martin’s 14. As a team, the Bobcats out-shot the Saints 44.4-31.1 percent from the floor, 50.0-16.7 from three, and scored 22 points off turnovers to Siena’s seven.
Brown and Jackson paced the Siena (6-8, 3-2 MAAC) offense in the first quarter, combining for 11 of the team’s 17 points. Neither team held more than a four-point lead in a face-paced first quarter that featured the Saints shooting nearly 44 percent from the field (7-16), and the Bobcats 50 from three (4-8). With much help to its shooting from deep, Quinnipiac entered the second ahead, 19-17.
The Bobcats opened the second quarter on a 6-0 over 1:30 of play with four points coming off Siena turnovers. The Saints cashed in on their first points of the quarter just before the five minute mark thanks to a pair of Myriam Traore free throws. Quinnipiac out-scored Siena 17-7 in the frame to enter the break with a 36-24 edge.
Siena came out of the gates hot with an 8-0 run over the first three minutes of play. Over the ensuing 1:30, Quinnipiac responded with an 8-0 run of its own - shooting 3-3 from the field, and 2-2 from three to push its lead back to 12.
The Bobcats’ run eventually reached 12-0 until Jackson buried a three with just under four to play in the third to end it, however, the visitors eventually took an 18-point lead into the fourth. The sides scored 15 apiece in the fourth quarter as the 18-point gap remained at the final buzzer.
Siena returns to action on Thur., Jan. 16 for a 7 p.m. road game at Sacred Heart.