BUFFALO, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Siena Saints defeated the Canisius Golden Griffins 73-56 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Koessler Athletic Center. Nicole Melious led all scorers with 19 points for Siena, which improved to 4-7 overall. Francesca Schiro added 14 points. The Saints controlled the game throughout, securing their second straight conference victory. Franka Wittenberg paced Canisius with 10 points and eight rebounds. Shariah Gailes scored a team-high 15 points for the Golden Griffins, who fell to 2-9. Siena, which entered as a heavy statistical favorite, never trailed and built a double-digit lead by halftime. The Saints’ defense held Canisius to a cold shooting performance across all phases. The teams will meet again in Loudonville on Jan. 31.

Saints, Golden Griffins Seek Momentum in MAAC Clash BUFFALO, N.Y. (Interstat) — Two teams looking to build on rare victories will meet Sunday when the Siena Saints visit the Canisius Golden Griffins in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball matchup. The game at Koessler Athletic Center pits teams with identical 2-7 overall records. Both squads snapped lengthy losing streaks in their most recent outings. Siena enters following a dominant 94-56 home win over Central Connecticut on Monday. The Saints’ offense, which had struggled in a seven-game skid, erupted behind a career-high 22 points and eight assists from sophomore guard Francesca Schiro. Nicole Melious added 15 points and five assists. Schiro has been a bright spot, averaging 14.3 points over her last four games. Her backcourt play will be critical against Canisius’s pressure. The Golden Griffins ended their own seven-game slide with a 65-60 home victory against Wright State on Dec. 12. Junior guard Shariah Gailes led the way with 20 points, continuing her role as the team’s primary scorer. She poured in 28 points in a win over Mercyhurst on Nov. 30 and averages a team-high 16.0 points per game. Both teams have faced challenging non-conference schedules. Siena’s losses include road games at Rutgers and UMass, while Canisius has been defeated by power conference opponents Michigan, Syracuse and Cincinnati. The matchup opens MAAC play for both programs, offering a fresh start. Siena will rely on its recent offensive surge, where it averaged 87 points over its two wins. Canisius will look to leverage its home court and Gailes’ scoring prowess to establish an early conference advantage. Defensive consistency will be key. Siena allowed an average of 47 points in its two wins but 74.4 during its seven losses. Canisius has held its last two opponents under 70 points after yielding 90 or more three times earlier this season. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST Sunday. The teams will meet again in Loudonville, New York, on Jan. 31.