Big Green’s Comeback Falls Short at Siena

Saturday, December 3

Loudonville, N.Y.

2:00 PM

Dartmouth College

1-6,0-0Ivy League

Siena

4-4,0-0MAAC

Dartmouth

Siena

Mia Curtis ’24

Photo by: Chris Poss

12/3/2022 5:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Dartmouth trailed by 14 at halftime, but cut the lead to one in the fourth quarter

By: Kyle Relf

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — Despite a 14-point halftime deficit, the Dartmouth women's basketball team challenged Siena in the fourth quarter, but ultimately dropped a 75-67 decision Saturday afternoon at the UHY Center.

Dartmouth moved to 1-6 on the season with the non-conference loss, while Siena improved to 4-4.

A portion of the halftime deficit was wiped away with a productive third quarter as the Big Green entered the fourth trailing by nine, 54-45. Dartmouth came out firing and quickly trimmed the lead to one, then responded to Siena's run to trail 62-60 with less than three minutes remaining. Turnovers proved costly down the stretch as the Saints were able to seal the win.

Victoria Page and Mia Curtis, two of four Big Green players in double figures, led Dartmouth offensively with 15 points apiece. Mekkena Boyd chipped in with 13 and Grace Niekelski followed with 11. Saturday marked the second time this season Dartmouth has featured four in double figures, a feat that only occurred once last season. Emma Koch led the team with 10 rebounds.

Elisa Mevius led the Saints with 17 points and Valencia Fontenelle-Posson was close behind with 16, including 15 in the first half. Siena was 10-of-21 from the perimeter, while Dartmouth was 7-of-22. Siena was also more effective at the free throw line, going 19-of-27 to the Big Green's 14-of-26 effort.

Siena was able to build a 42-28 halftime lead behind hot 3-point shooting. The Saints were 8-of-12 behind the arc in the opening quarters and Valencia Fontenelle-Possen led that charge, connecting on all five of her attempts from deep. Dartmouth scored the first five points of the game, but a 13-12 edge marked the Big Green's last lead of the afternoon. The Saints led, 17-13, at the end of the first quarter and ramped up the 3-point shooting to go 5-of-6 in the second to extend their lead. The last shot of Fontenelle-Posson's barrage pushed the Saints to their 14-point halftime edge, the largest lead of the game up to that point.

Siena scored the first points of the third quarter to stretch the lead to 16, but Dartmouth gained some momentum with Boyd's trey on the ensuing possession. The Big Green were within 10 after another Boyd triple just a minute later. Dartmouth continued to climb back with Niekelski's 3-pointer midway through the quarter and largely traded buckets with the Saints through the remainder of the stanza.

The early minutes of the fourth quarter saw Dartmouth embark on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to one, 57-56. Teresa Seppala's 3-point play stopped the Saints' bleeding and they eventually held a 62-56 edge with just over five minutes remaining. Trailing by five, Niekelski drove to the basket, drew a foul and knocked down a free throw to bring Dartmouth back within two, 62-60.

.@GNiekelski with the and-1! We're within two after she knocked down the free throw. https://t.co/AMReckXv6q | @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/CFAZqUO6v3
— Dartmouth College WBB (@DartmouthWBB) December 3, 2022

Ahniysha Jackson answered with a 3-pointer on the other end and although Niekelski had another big bucket soon after, the Big Green struggled to sustain their offense over the final minutes to complete the comeback.

Dartmouth returns to Leede Arena Tuesday afternoon to host Albany at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Bob Lipman and Lori McBride on the call, and an audio broadcast will be available through the Dartmouth Athletics website with Justin McIsaac calling the action.