ADRIAN, Mich. – A strong first half helped the Siena Heights women's basketball team to a 72-52 victory over Goshen in the first round of games in the Annual SHU Thanksgiving Tournament, on Friday.

Helping the Saints jump out to a quick lead in the first quarter was Alyssa Larson and Syarra Sellers, tallying 13 points together prior to another Saint scoring. SHU ended the first quarter with a 10-point lead, 31-21.

Siena Heights (2-5) kept the Maple Leafs to only 17 in the second and third quarters combined, holding a 62-38 lead heading into the final quarter. GC managed to put up 14 points in the final quarter, but it wasn't enough as Siena Heights coasted to a 72-52 victory.

Leading the Saints with 14 points was Larson, six points coming in the first five minutes of action. Azalea Miller and Addyson Tomczak each added 11 points and four boards while Ashley Perry tallied 10 points. Miller led SHU with five assists. Goshen (1-8) was led by Sydney Stein and Mariah Roe, each scoring nine points.

From the floor, Siena Heights shot 26-55 (47.3%) while going 6-16 (37.5%) behind the arc and 14-17 (82.4%) from the charity stripe. The Maple Leafs went 19-55 (34.5%) from the floor, 5-20 (25.0%) in three-point land and 9-16 (56.3%) from the free throw line.

Siena Heights will advance to the SHU Thanksgiving Tournament Championship, set for a 4 p.m. tipoff, where they will face Pikeville (Ky.), on Saturday. Pikeville defeated Indiana-Northwest, 90-58, to make their way to the championship. Indiana-Northwest and Goshen will play in the consolation game at 2 p.m.