ALBANY, N.Y. (Interstat) — The Siena Saints used a dominant first half to set the tone and never looked back, defeating the Manhattan Lady Jaspers 91-72 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Times Union Center.

The Saints, led by a prolific offensive trio, overwhelmed Manhattan early, building a 51-30 halftime lead that proved insurmountable. Siena shot efficiently from the floor and capitalized on Manhattan’s mistakes, scoring 27 points off 20 Lady Jasper turnovers.

Siena guard Francesca Schiro orchestrated the victory with a near triple-double, scoring 24 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out nine assists. Her backcourt partner, Nicole Melious, provided a game-high 25 points and added seven rebounds. Forward Kaiya Rain Tucker controlled the interior, finishing with 23 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

The game’s decisive stretch came in the opening quarter. After Manhattan’s Colette Mulderig scored the first basket, Siena unleashed a 17-2 run over a five-minute span to seize immediate control. The run was fueled by defensive pressure, leading to easy transition opportunities. Schiro was central to the surge, drawing a three-shot foul and converting all three free throws, then later stealing the ball to set up a Caydence Hadley layup. By the time the period ended, Siena led 26-13, having forced seven Manhattan turnovers.

Manhattan, which fell to 5-18 overall and 4-10 in the MAAC, showed resilience after the break. The Lady Jaspers opened the third quarter with a 12-4 spurt, cutting the deficit to 55-42 after a three-pointer from Elisa Solé Sanchez. Mulderig, who posted a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, was instrumental in the push.

Siena, now 11-12 overall and 8-6 in conference play, quickly snuffed out the rally. Schiro answered with a pull-up jumper, and after a Manhattan score, she found Tucker for a layup to halt the momentum. The Saints closed the quarter strong, taking a 73-55 lead into the final period and never allowing the margin to dip below 16 points the rest of the way.

The Saints’ offensive efficiency was the story, as they posted an offensive rating of 111.3 points per 100 possessions. They shot 44% from the field and a sharp 82.8% from the free-throw line, making 24 of 29 attempts. Manhattan struggled with its shooting, connecting on just 34.7% of its field goals and 21.4% from three-point range.

Manhattan did find success on the offensive glass, collecting 20 rebounds to keep some possessions alive. Brianna Davis contributed 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and three blocks for the Lady Jaspers. Hana Mühl added 10 points and eight rebounds, while Tatianna Collins came off the bench to record a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Siena received a balanced contribution beyond its top three scorers. Hadley finished with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists, providing steady play on both ends.

The victory gives Siena momentum heading into a road contest at Quinnipiac on Thursday. Manhattan will look to regroup when it returns home to host Niagara on Thursday.