ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Siena Heights women's basketball team returned to play with a 79-41 win over Rochester in a non-conference road contest on Saturday afternoon. Junior Allye Minor (Bryan, Ohio) led the Saints in scoring with 20 points on the day.

THE BASICS

Final Score: Siena Heights 79, Rochester 41

Location: Garth Pleasant Arena (Rochester, Michigan)

Records: Siena Heights (3-1), Rochester (1-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Junior Peyton Banks (Wadsworth, Ohio) made the Saints opening basket that started an 8-1 run in the opening three minutes. Rochester went on a run of its own (5-0) to cut the lead to just two points, 8-6, with just over six minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Junior Kelsey Wyman (Blissfield, Mich.) hit a three to give Siena its first double-digit lead, 19-9. The jumper happened in the middle of an 8-0 run that extended the Saints advantage to 12 points (21-9). The Warriors hit a three to cut the lead to single numbers to end the first quarter with a 23-14 score on the board.

Back-to-back three-point jumpers sparked a 14-0 run by Siena Heights in the second quarter that extended the SHU lead to 40-17 with just 2:34 left before the half. Siena Heights and Rochester traded layups to put things at 42-19 as the teams entered the locker room at halftime.

The Saints scored the first six points of the second half to push their advantage to 29 points. The advantage widened further as the third period moved on. At the buzzer, the Saints had a 61-28 lead as the teams moved into the final quarter of play.

The fourth quarter went similar to the quarter before it, as the lead climbed higher. The largest lead of the game, 38 points, was also the final deficit in the game as a free throw put the score at 79-41.

TOP SAINTS

• Minor finished the game shooting 8-12 from the floor and 4-5 from the three-point line to achieve her career-high 20 points.

• Wyman tallied 12 points on 4-8 shooting. She also hauled in six rebounds in the winning effort.

• Savanah Gibson (Birch Run, Mich.) registered 11 points and five rebounds.

• Banks recorded 10 points, seven rebounds, and a block in the game.

• Shelby Morrow (Flushing, Mich.) led the Saints with nine rebounds in the contest.

THE OPPOSITION

• Shamya Butler led the Warriors with 11 points.

• Cianna Gloster and Olivia Farrell led Rochester with five rebounds in the losing effort.

UP NEXT

The Saints begin conference play with a home contest against Cornerstone on Wednesday, January 27. The game is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m., EST.