ADRIAN, Mich. -- The 14th-ranked Siena Heights women's basketball team suffered an upset at the hands of Michigan-Dearborn in a 75-70 overtime-loss on Saturday afternoon. Peyton Banks (Wadsworth, Ohio) led the Saints with 25 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort.
THE BASICS
Final Score: UM-Dearborn 75, Siena Heights 70 (F/OT)
Location: Adrian, Michigan (SHU Fieldhouse)
Records: UM-Dearborn (15-11, 8-8 WHAC), Siena Heights (23-3, 15-2 WHAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
The score remained close throughout the opening quarter with Siena Heights entering the second with a 17-16 lead. The second quarter was a struggle for the Saints as they shot 1-14 from the floor and was held to only five points while giving up 20 to Michigan-Dearborn to face a 36-22 deficit at the half.
Siena Heights battled back in the second half, outscoring the Wolverines 25-20 in the third quarter and 18-9 in the fourth. Trailing 56-47 at the start of the final quarter of regulation, Demi Russell (Toledo, Ohio) hit a free throw to cut the UMD lead to eight points. The margin hovered around 10 points for the first half of the fourth until a three-point jumper by Kiana Votava (Port Huron, Mich.) sparked a 5-0 run that brought Siena within five points. Anaya Powell (Grand Rapids, Mich.) drilled a three following a made free throw by Michigan-Dearborn that cut the Wolverine lead to 63-60 with 2:33 remaining in the fourth. Banks hit a layup after a defensive stop and was fouled before completing the and-one to tie the game at 63. The teams traded layups for a 65-65 deadlock as the clock expired to force overtime.
Banks made a layup to give Siena Heights the 67-65 lead in the opening two minutes of the overtime period. Michigan-Dearborn responded with a 5-0 run to retake the lead, 70-67 with a 1:43 left on the clock. Votava hit a three to tie the game at 70 before another 5-0 run by the Wolverines sealed it.
Siena Heights gave up 13 threes to Michigan-Dearborn and were outscored 21-12 in points off turnovers. The Wolverines also edged the Saints in rebounds, 47-46.
TOP SAINTS
• Banks finished the game 11-23 from the floor and 3-3 from the free-throw line.
• Russell scored 21 points and hauled in seven rebounds. She shot 6-18 and 9-11 from the charity stripe.
• Votava was one point away from a double-double as she tied Banks with the game-high 10 rebounds.
THE OPPOSITION
• Ro'Zhane Wells led the charge for the Wolverine as she led the team with 22 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and five steals on the afternoon.
• Mariah Taylor scored 20 points and had five rebounds off the bench for UM-Dearborn.
UP NEXT
The Saints hit the road to face Northwestern Ohio on Wednesday, February 12 for a 5:30 p.m., EST tip-off.
