Guard Anajah Brown posted a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds while four other Saints scorers eclipsed double digits as Siena defeated Canisius, 72-62, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball action on Sunday at the UHY Center in Loudonville, N.Y.

Ahniysha Jackson (17), Emina Selimovic (13), Valencia Fontenelle-Posson (12) and Elisa Mervius (10) joined Brown in double digits for the Saints (8-5, 2-1 MAAC). Brown also contributed a game-best three blocks while Mervius led all players with seven assists. 

Freshman forward Sisi Eleko tied her season high with 17 points and established a season best in steals with five to pace the Golden Griffins (5-8, 2-2 MAAC). Junior Dani Haskell added in 13 points, with graduate student Vannessa Garrelts pitching in 12 to give Canisius three players in double figures. Garrelts, Haskell and freshman Brooklyn Thrash were all tied for the team lead in rebounds with five.

Down 18-8 late in the first quarter, the Griffs embarked on a 6-0 run over the next 1:24 to cut their deficit to just four, 18-14, heading into the second quarter. 

The Blue and Gold’s momentum from the end of the first frame carried into the start of the second as they started the stanza on another scoring streak, this time a 6-1 stretch that was ignited by a 3-pointer from Thrash, to take a 20-19 lead with 7:24 to play in the first half.

The teams traded baskets over the next four minutes before Saints scored five straight points, part of a 9-5 sequence that closed out the quarter, to take a 32-29 lead into the locker room. 

It was all Siena to open the second half as they used an 11-4 run over the first 3:16 of the third to build a 10-point cushion, 43-33, with 6:44 remaining in the frame. 

Canisius responded with an 8-4 stretch of its own, with Eleko contributing six of the eight points during the stretch, to cut the defect 47-41 with 4:09 to play. The Saints found an answer, however, as they kept the Griffs scoreless for the remainder of the quarter and added a late basket from freshman guard Elisa Mevius to take a 50-41 lead into the final frame.

The Griffs and Saints would exchange baskets during the open five minutes of the fourth quarter, with Canisius outscoring Siena by a 13-11 margin as the teams entered the media timeout. The Griffs would hit two 3-pointers after break, courtesy of Haskell and senior guard Jane McCauley, but it would not be enough as Siena recorded the 10-point victory to open 2023. 

Game Notes
• Today’s contest was the second ever game that Canisius played on New Year’s Day. The first instance came on Jan. 1, 1999 when Canisius defeated Rider 84-80 at the Koessler Athletic Center
• The Griffs record for games played on New Year’s Day shifts to 1-1 overall.
• Eleko is the first player to have five or more steals in a game since Garrelts had five earlier this season against UAlbany on Nov. 30
• Canisius shot 20-of-63 (.317) from the field compared to Siena who shot 29-of-60 (.483) from the floor.
• Garrelts finished the day a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Up Next
Canisius returns to action on Jan. 5 against Saint Peter’s. The game is scheduled to be held at 11 a.m., in the Koessler Athletic Center.