MAAC Basketball Championship Spotlights: Siena Saints
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. – With the 2015 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships quickly approaching, the league will begin to spotlight each of its 11 member institutions’ men’s and women’s programs leading up to championship week. Today’s school scheduled to be featured is Siena College.
Siena Men’s Basketball
Preseason Poll Pick vs. Current Standing (as of Feb. 27):
The Siena Saints were picked to finish second in the preseason poll, and are currently tied for seventh in the standings with Saint Peter’s posting a 7-11 league mark, and 10-17 overall record. With an injury plagued season, the Saints have managed to earn wins against second ranked Rider and Quinnipiac, while also picking up season series sweeps over Niagara and Marist.
Player to Watch: Rob Poole
Named to the preseason All-MAAC First Team, senior Rob Poole leads the Saints and ranks ninth in the conference in scoring, averaging 14.6 points per game. The Cherry Hill, New Jersey native, has the second best free-throw shooting percentage in the league, making 83.3 percent at the charity stripe. On the season, Poole is also averaging 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals.
Top Play of 2014-15 (as of Feb. 27): Watch Here
Breakthrough Performance(s) (as of Feb. 27):
The Siena Saints won the Franciscan Cup for the second season straight on Nov. 19 by defeating St. Bonaventure, 73-70, for the programs first ever win in the Reilly Center. Five Saint’s scored in double figures with Marquis Wright leading the way with 15 points. Lavon Long and Javion Ogunyemi both registered 13 points, while Rob Poole and Ryan Oliver scored 12 and 11 points respectively. Siena also dished out 21 assists on 24 made field goals and recorded just five turnovers in the contest.
Siena Women’s Basketball
Preseason Poll Pick vs. Current Standing (as of Feb. 27):
Picked to finish 10th in the preseason poll, the Saints are currently fifth in the league standings at 9-9 with two regular season games remaining. Overall, Siena owns a 16-11 record, making the 2014-15 campaign the team’s first winning season in over a decade. The Saints’ 16 wins are also the most for the program in 11 years. Siena has managed to put forth an impressive year despite dressing just seven players in its last 22 games.
Player to Watch: Tehresa Coles
A two-time MAAC Player of the Week (Nov. 24 and Jan. 26), senior guard Tehresa Coles is second on the squad in points (13.4 per game) and assists (2.9 per game), while posting a team-best 3.0 steals per game on the year. Coles’ scoring average ranks sixth in the league, and her steals mark leads the MAAC. The senior was awarded MAAC Player of the Week honors for the second time this season on Jan. 26 after leading Siena to a 2-0 week with wins over Manhattan and Monmouth by averaging 19.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 steals. In both matchups against Manhattan, Coles achieved career milestones as she became the 26th player in program history to score 1,000 career points on Jan. 24, and later broke the Siena all-time career steals record on Feb. 19.
Top Play of 2014-15 (as of Feb. 27): Watch Here
Breakthrough Performance(s) (as of Feb. 27):
In her first year in Loudonville, freshman Margot Hetzke has secured her legacy as one of the most accomplished rookies in program history. Through 27 games, Hetzke ranks fifth in the MAAC in scoring (14.0 points per game) and fourth in rebounding (7.4 rebounds per game). The nine-time league Rookie of the Week has amassed 377 points so far, with two games remaining, to mark the fifth-highest total by a Siena freshman. On the year, Hetzke has reached double figures 21 times, notched five double-doubles, and three of 20+ point performances.
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The 2015 season culminates at the 2015 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York, March 5-9. Tickets for the championships are available online at ticketmaster.com.
For the full men’s basketball schedule, visits maacsports.com and remember to follow the conversation on twitter using #MAACHoops and #MAACHoops15.