ALBANY — Niagara had Victoria Rampado.
Siena had something better: victory rampage.
The Saints swarmed the Purple Eagles for 22 turnovers and got a MAAC Tournament single-game record nine steals from Aaliyah Jones to beat Niagara 71-60 at the Times Union Center on Saturday.
That sets up a semifinal matchup against second-seeded Marist at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Niagara (13-18) swept the regular-season series in large part because of Rampado, a unanimous All-MAAC first-teamer who had 41 points and 15 rebounds at the TU Center on Jan. 7.
She scored 17 and grabbed 14 rebounds on Saturday, but had just four points at halftime as Siena (17-13) built a 17-point lead, 40-23, with one of its best second quarters of the season.
Meanwhile, Jones scored 21 to lead Siena, but the number that jumped off the page was nine in the steals column. Head coach Ali Jaques had Kollyns Scarbrough front Rampado in the post, and other Saints were waiting to collapse on her when the ball found its way inside.
“I had my teammate’s back, knowing she was fronting and how Rampado is such a strong post player,” Jones said. “We were able to help off of our player, and when she put the ball on the floor, I was just kind of in the right spot.”
Niagara chipped away in the second half and got within six, 61-55, with 1:34 to play on Maggie McIntyre’s three-pointer.
Siena held Niagara at bay by making six of six free throws in the final 48 seconds, four by Jones and two by Scarbrough, who finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
“They score a basket, you can’t dwell on it, you can’t backpedal, you can’t pout about it,” Scarbrough said. “You get another stop and get a basket on the other side. That was our mentality.”
Siena split the regular-season series with Marist, winning 58-53 at the TU Center on Jan. 18.
The Red Foxes have won the MAAC Tournament 10 times since 2004.
NIAGARA (60)
Rmapado 7-12 3-6 17, Stroemple 1-10 3-4 5, Moore 3-6 0-1 6, Sherburne 4-13 5-6 15, McIntyre 4-10 1-1 12, Wanzer 0-1 0-0 0, Bryant 1-4 2-2 4, Gathers 0-1 1-2 1. Totals: 20-57 15-22 60.
SIENA (71)
Sims 4-12 0-0 8, Jones 7-10 5-7 21, Gibson 2-6 5-7 9, Scarbrough 6-17 7-7 20, Rawls 1-9 1-2 4, Lundquist 3-9 0-0 7, Piper 1-3 0-0 2. Totals” 24-66 18-23 71.
Niagara 11 12 19 18–60
Siena 18 22 12 19–71
Rebounds: Niagara 45 (Rampado 14); Siena 38 (Scarbrough 10). Assists: Niagara 11 (Rampado, Stroemple, Moore, Sherburne, McIntyre 2); Siena 12 (Gibson 4). Total fouls: Niagara: 25; Siena 16. Fouled out: Moore.
Reach Gazette Sportswriter Mike MacAdam at 518-395-3146 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter @Mike_MacAdam.
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