ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — Siena cruised to a 94-56 women’s basketball victory over Central Connecticut on Monday at Times Union Center. The Saints established a commanding lead with 33 first-quarter points and never trailed, improving their season record to 2-7. The Blue Devils fell to 0-9. Francesca Schiro and Nicole Melious led Siena, while Jessica Farrell was a key performer for Central Connecticut. Siena next plays at Niagara on Friday. Central Connecticut hosts New Hampshire on Wednesday.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Siena Saints erupted for 33 points in the opening quarter and never looked back, cruising to a 94-56 victory over the winless Central Connecticut Blue Devils in a nonconference women’s basketball game Monday night at Times Union Center. The game was effectively decided in the first 10 minutes. Siena, which entered the night with a 1-7 record, unleashed a dominant offensive performance from the opening tip, building a 33-19 lead after the first period. The Saints shot efficiently and forced 10 Central Connecticut turnovers in the quarter, converting them into easy transition opportunities. Francesca Schiro, a 5-foot-7 guard from Hillsborough, New Jersey, led the charge for Siena. She scored 22 points and dished out eight assists, orchestrating the offense and repeatedly breaking down the Blue Devils’ defense. Her backcourt partner, Nicole Melious of Staten Island, New York, added 15 points and five assists. The duo combined for five of Siena’s nine made three-pointers in the first half, helping the Saints build a 49-32 advantage by halftime. Central Connecticut, which fell to 0-9, struggled to find any consistent rhythm against Siena’s pressure. The Blue Devils were led by Jessica Farrell of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, who scored 16 points, and Kayla Henry of East Hartford, Connecticut, who added 11 points. Kiyah Lewis contributed nine points and two blocks off the bench. The most important stretch of the game came late in the first quarter. After Central Connecticut took an early 6-2 lead, Siena responded with a devastating 31-7 run over the final seven and a half minutes of the period. The run featured a barrage of three-pointers, including two from Schiro and one from Melious, and was fueled by relentless defensive pressure that generated six steals. Valencia Fontenelle-Posson of nearby Guilderland, New York, capped the quarter with a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Saints their 14-point lead, a margin that would only grow as the game progressed. Siena continued to extend its lead after halftime, outscoring Central Connecticut 24-12 in the third quarter. The Saints’ ball movement was exemplary, finishing with 24 assists on 34 made field goals. Genevive Wedemeyer of Cowbridge, Germany, scored 10 points, while Caydence Hadley of Rochester, New York, and Fontenelle-Posson each added nine points. The Saints shot 46% from the field for the game and capitalized on 26 Central Connecticut turnovers, scoring 34 points off those miscues. The Blue Devils, conversely, managed only six points off 15 Siena turnovers. Siena also dominated in the paint, outscoring Central Connecticut 44-24. With the victory, Siena improves to 2-7 on the season, while Central Connecticut’s search for its first win continues at 0-9. The Saints will look to build momentum as they head into Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play later this month, while the Blue Devils face a quick turnaround with a home game against New Hampshire on Wednesday. An announced crowd of 324 at the downtown Albany arena watched the Saints secure their most lopsided victory of the season. The performance offered a stark contrast to Siena’s early-season struggles and provided a confidence boost ahead of a demanding schedule. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Siena was projected with a 93.40 percent probability to win, a forecast the Saints fulfilled with authority from the opening tip.

Struggling Teams Seek Momentum in Nonconference Clash ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — Two teams searching for a spark will meet Monday when the Central Connecticut Blue Devils visit the Siena Saints in a nonconference women’s basketball game at Times Union Center. Both programs enter with difficult starts to the season. Central Connecticut remains winless at 0-8, while Siena sits at 1-7. The Saints secured their lone victory in their last outing, an 80-54 home win over New Haven on Dec. 3. The Blue Devils are coming off an 85-48 loss to Vermont on Dec. 7, a game in which guard Kayla Henry scored a season-high 18 points. Henry, who averages 6.5 points per game, will be a focal point for Central Connecticut’s offense after her efficient performance (7-for-11 shooting) against the Catamounts. Support comes from Ciera Pearson, who contributed 10 points, six rebounds and four assists in the loss. Siena’s offense runs through guard Nicole Melious, who led the team with 15 points and three assists in the win over New Haven. She is averaging 6.6 points per game this season. In the victory, the Saints saw balanced scoring with Francesca Schiro adding 16 points and Caydence Hadley contributing 15 off the bench. Defensive consistency will be a key concern. Central Connecticut has allowed an average of 68.4 points per game during its skid, while Siena, outside of its last win, has been held under 55 points in four of its seven losses. This matchup represents one of the final tune-ups before both teams dive into their respective conference schedules in January. For the Blue Devils, it is a chance to avoid heading into a Wednesday home game against New Hampshire still seeking their first win. For the Saints, it is an opportunity to build a modest winning streak before a two-game road trip to Niagara and Canisius later next week. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Monday.