ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive pressure and poor shooting, the Dartmouth women’s basketball team secured a 65-55 victory over Siena on Sunday at Times Union Center, overcoming a third-quarter surge from the Saints to improve their early-season record.

Dartmouth, now 3-1, built a commanding lead in the first half, stifling Siena’s offense with a defensive effort that held the Saints to just 21 points through two quarters. The Big Green led 36-21 at halftime, capitalizing on Siena’s offensive struggles.

The Saints, who fell to 0-4, mounted a significant challenge in the third quarter, outscoring Dartmouth 21-11. A driving layup and a free throw from Francesca Schiro capped a 14-2 Siena run that brought the Saints within five points and threatened to overturn the game. However, Dartmouth weathered the storm and responded in the final period.

The Big Green re-established control in the fourth quarter, matching their first- and second-quarter outputs with another 18 points to seal the win. The victory was anchored in a stark contrast in three-point shooting and free throw efficiency. Dartmouth connected on 9 of 24 attempts from beyond the arc, while Siena managed just 4 makes on 31 attempts. From the free throw line, the Big Green converted 24 of 30 opportunities, a significant advantage over Siena’s 11-of-15 performance.

Siena’s Francesca Schiro, a guard from Hillsborough, New Jersey, led all scorers with 22 points, adding five rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes. Despite her efforts, the Saints committed 18 turnovers, which Dartmouth converted into 20 points. Siena also struggled with offensive efficiency, scoring just 55 points on 74 possessions.

Dartmouth’s victory was a balanced effort. Cate MacDonald, a 6-foot-1 forward from Lynnfield, Massachusetts, recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Nina Minicozzi of Belmont, Massachusetts, provided a crucial offensive spark with 14 points, including three three-pointers. Alexandra Eldredge of Mclean, Virginia, also finished in double figures with 13 points, and Zeynep Ozel of Istanbul, Turkey, contributed 11 points and four assists.

For Siena, Kaiya Rain Tucker of Philadelphia pulled down nine rebounds, while Jamariah Turner of Huntsville, Alabama, scored 10 points off the bench.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 416, saw Dartmouth bounce back from a 65-41 loss to Albany in its previous outing. Siena, still searching for its first win, will look to break its streak when it travels to face crosstown rival Albany on Wednesday. Dartmouth’s next contest is at home against Merrimack on Dec. 2.