Below is video of Siena coach Ali Jaques talking about her team's 52-48 quarterfinal victory over Fairfield in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference quarterfinals.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Siena women's basketball team has advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals.

The Saints led the entire second half, downing Fairfield, 52-48, in the quarterfinals on Friday afternoon. Siena advances to take on No. 2 seed Iona, at 9:30 a.m., on Saturday morning.

The victory marks the first MAAC postseason win for Saints coach Ali Jaques.

“That was a really hard-fought win. We’re happy to be here for another day," she said. 

Senior Lily Grenci led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Kanika Cummings came off the bench to scored 12 points. Cummings scored seven of her team's final 10 points, hitting some huge shots, including a 3-pointer with three minutes to play.

It was close down the stretch, as the Saints (13-17) missed four free throws in the final 1:17, but they hung on for the win.

The Stags (17-13) were led by Brittany Obi-Tabot, who scored 14 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, while Alexys Vazquez finished with a team-high 15 points.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Siena women's basketball team is just one half from the semifinals.

Lily Grenci scored 15 points in the first 20 minutes, as the Saints lead Fairfield 31-27.

Katie Cizynski led the Stags with 10 points.

Siena shot 50 percent (13-26) from the field and led by as many as 11 points.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The University at Albany turned a game that didn’t mean much into a big victory on Saturday afternoon.

The Great Danes picked up their 20th win of the season, besting Fairfield 58-50, in a BracketBusters game at Webster Bank Arena.

UAlbany (20-9) eclipsed its win total of last season, while also cracking the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2006-07 season. It’s only the third time the Great Danes have won 20 or more games at the Division I level, the previous two came in NCAA tournament seasons.

“This group deserves a lot of credit,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown.

The Great Danes got great play from junior John Puk and sophomore Sam Rowley, who combined for 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Puk was especially effective, as he scored five of the first seven points of the second half, as UAlbany extended its lead to double-digits.

“This is probably his best game since (the season-opener against) Duquesne,” Brown said. “He was so active. When he’s active, he’s a different player.”

The Great Danes played their second straight game without redshirt freshman Peter Hooley (concussion), but Gary Johnson played well in his second consecutive start.

The Stags (17-12) played without two starters, freshman Amadou Sidibe and senior Desmond Wade. Derek Needham scored 15 points to lead Fairfield, while Keith Matthews chipped in 11.

UAlbany got just five points from senior guard Mike Black, who also finished with six turnovers. Still, they were able to post a very solid win, one of their best of the year.

“I’m proud of my guys,” Brown said. “I thought we played with great toughness.”

The Great Danes finish with a home game against New Hampshire (Feb. 28) and a road game at Stony Brook (March 3), before they host the conference tournament.

“We want to be feeling good about ourselves when the conference tournament rolls around,” Brown said. “This was a good win for us.”

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — The Siena men’s basketball returned from Connecticut on Thursday night without a win and with plenty of heartache.

The Saints fell behind early and never could recover, as Fairfield thoroughly outplayed them to a tune of 74-50 decision at the Webster Bank Arena.

Siena (4-11, 6-20) has now lost 20 games for only the third time in program history and has locked up a spot in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference first round.
The Saints will play in a play-in game on Friday, March 8, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.

Derek Needham did it all for the Stags scoring a game-high 31 points and knocking down a career-high eight 3-pointers. Fairfield (8-7, 16-11) also got 10 point from senior Colin Nickerson.

Siena trailed by as many as 19 points in the first half, 34-15. The Saints finished the half on a run and scored the second half’s first basket to cut deficit to 11, 36-25.

From there, it was all Stags with Needham making shot after shot. The senior finished 11-17 from the floor, but 8-11 from beyond the arc.

Siena played without sophomore Rakeem Brookins, who sat out after reaggravating a back injury during the team’s shootaround prior to the game.

Fairfield played without one of its guards, senior Desmond Wade, who missed his second straight game.

It didn’t affect the Stags who jumped out to a 22-10 lead, as Needham hit four three’s in the first seven minutes.

The Saints struggled offensively all night. Their top two scorers, O.D. Anosike and Rob Poole, were held without a field goal until less than five minutes remained. Anosike, who led the country in rebounding coming in, finished with just five points and six rebounds, while Poole had just three points.

The only other seasons where Siena lost 20 or more games came in 1996-95 (22) and 2004-05 (24).

The Saints host Loyola (Md.) on Saturday in downtown Albany. 

Siena senior O.D. Anosike talks about the team's 64-54 loss to Fairfield on Monday evening.

ALBANY - The Siena basketball team missed out on a big opportunity on Monday evening.

A win would have put them in a three-way tie for sixth place, but instead the team finds itself in eighth.

Fairfield blew open a 41-41 lead with an 18-4 run that catapulted them to a 64-54 victory in Albany, in front of 5,597 fans.

The Saints (4-8, 6-17) were led by senior O.D. Anosike, who scored 15 points, grabbed eight rebound and dished out four assists.

The Stags (6-6) 14-10) got 18 points from senior Derek Needham and 11 off the bench from Maurice Barrow, who scored nine in the second half.

Siena plays next, at Loyola (Md.), on Friday at 9 p.m., in a game that is on ESPNU.  

ALBANY - It was a back and forth first half, with Fairfield scoring the final five points to take a 27-25 lead into intermission.

There were 11 lead changes and four ties in the first 20 minutes.

Siena was led by O.D. Anosike, who has eight points, but guard Rakeem Brookins picked up his third foul just before the break.

The Stags were led by Derek Needham, who scored eight points.

ALBANY - The ESPNU BracketBusters selections are out.

Siena will host Radford, from the Big South Conference, on Sunday, Feb. 24. The Highlanders are 10-13.

The University at Albany will travel to Fairfield that weekend.The Stags are in Albany tonight to take on Siena. Fairfield is 13-10 this season.

Siena coach Gina Castelli talks about her team's 63-48 loss to Fairfield in the MAAC semifinals.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Siena women's basketball team ran out of gas on Saturday morning.

Fairfield went on a big run to end the game and advance to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game, with a 63-48 victory, at the MassMutual Center.

The Stags (24-7) scored 16 of the last 20 points in the game, turning a 3-point lead, into a 15-point victory.

The Saints (12-17) had a tough offensive second half, making just seven baskets and scoring only 18 points.

Fairfield went on the big run, without their start player. Taryn Johnson picked up her third and fourth fouls, in the first three minutes of the second half and was anchored to the bench.

In her absence, Desiree Pina (20 points) and Katelyn Linney (14 points) stepped up big.

Lily Grenci finished with a game-high 21 points for the Saints, who will see Maja Gerlyng and Cristina Centeno graduate.

Fairfield will face either Marist or Niagara, in the championship game, at noon, on Monday. 

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Lily Grenci can't be stopped so far and the junior has Siena 20 minutes from the championship game.

Grenci has a game-high 14 points and is 6-for-12 from the field, as the Saints have a 1-point lead at intermission.

The last time Siena played in a championship game was in 2003, but they one half away from punching their ticket.

Fairfield is led by Katelyn Linney, who has 11 points and Taryn Johnson, who added nine points and seven rebounds.

The Stags are 22-0, when leading at the half, and just 1-7, when they trail.

Siena lost to Fairfield both times during the regular season, but the Saints are hoping the third time is the charm.

J.S. Carras/The Record

ALBANY – The Siena men's basketball team has been anything but super on the road this season.

The Saints have lost their last four games away from the homecourt and are winless in all five league games, outside the city of Albany.

Yet, after dropping a tough 63-58 game to Saint Peter's on Friday, Siena starts a three-game road trip this afternoon, when they take on Fairfield, at 3:30 p.m.

The game can be seen on SNY in the Capital District, for fans who want an appetizer, before Super Bowl XLVI, between the New York Giants and New England Patriots.

The Stags (7-4, 12-10) are coming off of an eight-point victory over Niagara, where junior guard Derek Needham scored a career-high 32 points. Fairfield, which was the No. 2 pick in the preseaon poll, has been inconsistent this season, but the Stags seem to have righted the ship, winning four of their past five games.

The Saints (5-7, 10-12) won the first meeting, 73-60, in Albany, but they know this game will be much more difficult.

“Fairfield's a team that's very good,” said junior forward OD Anosike. “They're definitely in the upper echelon of the league. We got them here, when we played them at home, but it's going to be a much different atmosphere.”

In Friday's loss, Siena really struggled offensively, down the stretch, scoring just 12 points in the game's final 11 minutes and finishing the game 3-for-14 from the field.

“We did take some questionable shots,” said freshman Evan Hymes. “We probably should have got the ball into OD.”

Anosike had his streak of 17 straight double-doubles snapped, finishing with just nine points, his lowest total since Nov. 21, when he scored just four points, against St. Bonaventure.

The Saints are 2-8 away from Albany this season and they must bounce back from a tough home loss to have a solid performance tonight.

“We have a tough game,” said Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro. “We have to move on.”

The players think it could be beneficial to have such a quick turnaround from Friday's disappointment.

“I think it's going to be good to get it out of our system and forget about it,” said senior guard Kyle Downey.

J.S. Carras/The Record

Siena has a pivotal game on Sunday afternoon.

The Saints dropped a home game, against a team below them in the standings on Friday and now face a very talented Fairfield team.

Siena is just one game ahead of two teams (Niagara, Saint Peter's) behind them and can't afford to fall behind them, if they want to avoid the play-in round in the MAAC tournament.

Derek Needham is coming off a 32-point performance and you can be sure that Fairfield hasn't forgotten the 73-60 loss they suffered up in Albany.

SIENA AT FAIRFIELD

When: Today, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Arena at Harbor Yard (5,298), Bridgeport, Conn.
TV: SNY (Bob Huessler, Joe DeSantis)
Radio: TALK 1300-AM (Robert Lee, Andy Grazulis)
2011-12 Records: Siena (5-7, 10-12) Fairfield (7-4, 12-10)
Last Meeting: Siena 73, Fairfield 60 at Times Union Center, Albany, on Jan. 6, 2012 — Siena leads the all-time series 31-25

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
SIENA

No., Name, Pos., Yr., Ht., Avg.
5, Evan Hymes, G, Fr., 5-8, 14.2

3, Kyle Downey, G, Sr., 6-2, 12.5

31, Owen Wignot, F, Jr., 6-8, 5.9

1, OD Anosike, F, Jr., 6-8, 15.2

0, Brandon Walters, C, Sr., 6-8, 6.4

FARIFIELD

No., Name, Pos., Yr., Ht., Avg.
11, Desmond Wade, G, Jr., 5-8, 6.6
3, Derek Needham, G, Jr., 5-11, 12.0
15, Maurice Barrow, F, So., 6-5, 8.9
21, Rakim Sanders, F, Sr., 6-5, 16.2
34, Ryan Olander, C, Sr., 7-0, 9.5

MAAC STANDINGS

School, Conference, Overall
Iona, 11-2, 19-5
Loyola (Md), 10-2, 17-5

Manhattan, 10-3, 17-8
Farifield, 7-4, 12-10
Rider, 6-6, 9-15
Siena, 5-7, 10-12
Niagara, 4-8, 9-15
Saint Peter’s, 4-8, 5-18
Marist, 3-9, 8-15
Canisius, 1-12, 4-19

Saturday’s Scores

Iona 85, Manhattan 73
Marist 80, Canisius 69

Today’s Games

Loyola (Md.) at Saint Peter's, 12 p.m.
Niagara at Rider, 1 p.m.
Siena at Fairfield, 3:30 p.m.

ALBANY - What a difference three days makes.

Siena was thumped just a few days ago, against Iona. On Friday, the Saints turned around and played their best conference game of the year, handing Fairfield its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference loss of the season, 73-60.

Five Siena (1-3, 6-8) players scored in double figures, with senior Kyle Downey leading the way with 19 points.

Fairfield (3-1, 8-7) was led by guard Desmond Wade, who finished with a game-high 27 points and finished with seven 3-pointers.

The Saints shot 63 percent (26-41) from the field and 61 percent (8-13) from beyond the arc.

Siena plays Niagara on Sunday, in Albany, at 1 p.m.

ALBANY - Siena is playing much better than they did on Tuesday evening. If they keep it up, they might be able to hand Fairfield its first conference loss of the season. 

Kyle Downey scored a team-high 12 points for the Saints, who shot 6-for-9 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes and 62 percent (13-21) from the field.

Brandon Walters and Rob Poole each added six points in the first half for Siena. 

Farifield made eight 3-pointers in the first half, while making only two 2-point field goals.

Desmond Wade lead the Stags with 16 points and he hit four of Fairfield's eight 3-pointers.

Both Rakim Sanders and Derek Needham were held scoreless in the first half.

Siena senior Kyle Downey used the words bottom of the barrel, before Thursday's practice. 

The Saints are in last, thanks to a Canisius loss on Thursday evening, but they are alone with the Griffs as the only Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference teams still without a win.

They'll get another crack at it tonight, when they host Fairfield.

If the Saints lose, it'll only be the second time in school history that Siena started the MAAC season at 0-4, since joining the league in 1989-90 season. 

The schedule makers were not kind to Siena this season, as the Saints have played the top 3 team from the preseason poll, in the first four games.

If Siena doesn't win tonight, Sunday's game against Niagara will almost be a must-win, in hopes of avoiding what would be an 0-5 start to the league season.

FAIRFIELD AT SIENA

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.
Where: Times Union Center (8,444), Albany 
TV: Time Warner-3 (Robert Lee, Tom Huerter, Marisa Jacques)
Radio: TALK 1300-AM (Andrew Catalon, Andy Grazulis)
2011-12 Records: Fairfield (3-0, 8-6) Siena (0-3, 5-8)
Last Meeting: Fairfield 68, Siena 55 at Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Conn., on Feb. 25, 2011 — Siena leads the all-time series 30-25

PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
FAIRFIELD

No., Name, Pos., Yr., Ht., Ppg.
11, Desmond Wade, G, Jr., 5-8, 3.6
3, Derek Needham, G, Jr., 5-11, 12.1
21, Rakim Sanders, G/F, Sr., 6-5, 16.9
15, Maurice Barrow, F, So., 6-5, 9.0
34, Ryan Olander, C, Sr., 7-0, 11.4

SIENA

No., Name, Pos., Yr., Ht., Ppg.
5, Evan Hymes, G, Fr., 5-8, 15.5
3, Kyle Downey, G, Sr., 6-2, 12.7
31, Owen Wignot, F, Sr., 6-6, 4.0 
1, OD Anosike, F, Jr., 6-8, 13.2
0, Brandon Walters, C, Sr., 6-8, 6.0

MAAC STANDINGS

Team, Conference, Overall
Iona 3-0, 11-3
Fairfield, 3-0, 8-6
Loyola (Md), 3-1, 10-4
Marist, 2-1, 7-7
Manhattan, 2-2, 9-7
St. Peter’s, 2-2, 3-12
Niagara, 1-2, 6-9
Rider, 1-2, 4-11
Siena, 0-3, 5-8
Canisius, 0-4, 3-11

Thursday’s Scores

St. Peter’s 65, Canisius 61
Loyola (Md.) 61, Manhattan 60

Today’s Schedule

Fairfield at Siena, 7 p.m.
Marist at Rider, 7 p.m.
Niagara at Iona (ESPNU), 9 p.m.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The way the Siena women's basketball team played in the first half, you'd think there was no way they could win.

Siena overcame a eight-point halftime deficit to post a 36-33 victory at the Arena at Harbor Yard, in the quarterfinals of the 2011 MAAC tournament.

The game is the lowest scoring combined score in MAAC tournament history, breaking last year's record of 70, when Siena topped Rider 45-25.

The Saints scored a whopping 29 points in the second half, compared to just seven before intermission.

Maja Gerlyng led the way with 14 points.

Siena (14-15) takes on five-time defending champion Marist in the semifinals, at 11:30 a.m., on Saturday.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - To say that the Siena women's basketball team shot poorly in the first half would be an understatement.

The Saints made just three field goals and trail 15-7 at halftime of their quarterfinal with Fairfield.

Siena posted two victories over the Stags in the regular season and did lead 2-0 and 4-2, before they couldn't find the basket.

Siena's Leading scorer Serena Moore picked up her second foul with 6:17 remaining and headed to the bench.

Fairfield missed their first 12 shots, but then finished the half by making six of their last 15 shots.

Maja Gerlyng leads the way with five points for the Saints, while Katelyn Linney has six for the Stags.

The winner of this game gets five-time defending champion Marist, who defeated Saint Peter's 61-33.

ALBANY - It was not a good night for Siena.

I'll have more thoughts on the Saints loss tomorrow, but here's video of coach Mitch Buonaguro giving his opening statement to the media after the 72-55 loss.