Basketball Programs Renew Region Rivalry with Siena on Saturday at Times Union Center

Albany, N.Y. - UAlbany's men's and women's basketball teams renew their Capital Region rivalry with Siena in a doubleheader at the Times Union Center on Saturday, Dec. 4. The women game begins at 5:00 p.m. (WCDB-90.9 FM). The men meet the defending Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference champions in the second contest at approximately 7:05 p.m. (WOFX-980 AM). The second half of the doubleheader will also be televised to parts of Upstate New York on Time Warner Cable Sports.

Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who is in her first season as head coach, has the Great Danes off to a 5-1 start, including five straight wins to begin the season. Ebone Henry leads the team in scoring at 16.0 points per game, plus is averaging 8.8 rebounds. Julie Forster, a 6-foot sophomore, is among the nation's top rebounders (11.3 pg) and is scoring at an 11.2 clip. Felicia Johnson adds 11.2 points per game. Siena (1-3) is led by Serena Moore, who averages 18.8 points and 9.0 rebounds. Head coach Gina Castelli is in her 21st season at the helm and has 311 career victories.

In the men's game, UAlbany (3-5) won two of three games last weekend at the Legends Classic's Detroit Subregional. The Great Danes defeated Niagara, 75-65, and Bowling Green, 56-55, in subregional play. Logan Aronhalt is second among the America East Conference scoring leaders at 19.5 points per game. Tim Ambrose (15.6 ppg) has moved to 17th on the school's career scoring list with 1,776 points. Mike Black, a sophomore who earned a spot on last year's America East all-rookie squad, returned to the floor last week after missing four games with an ankle injury. He is scoring at a 12.3 clip.

The Saints, who own a 2-4 record, have won three consecutive MAAC championships and advanced to three straight NCAA Tournaments. Mitch Buonaguro has take over the head coaching duties after Fran McCaffery was hired by Iowa. Buonaguro, a five-year Siena assistant, was previously the head coach at Fairfield (1985-91). Ryan Rossiter, a 6-foot-9 senior, earned first-team all-conference honors last year. He is averaging 20.2 points and leads the nation in rebounding (14.5 pg). Clarence Jackson (6'4") contributes 17.7 points, 2.7 assists and 2.5 rebounds. A shooter with unlimited range, Jackson was named to the All-MAAC third team.

Paw Prints: UAlbany and Siena are meeting for the 50th time in the men's series ... the two programs first played on Jan. 5, 1940 ... the Saints leads, 31-18, in the previous 49 matchups ... the schools renewed the rivalry, following a 24-year hiatus, in 2001 ... the series has averaged 11,335 fans per game over the last nine years ... Logan Aronhalt and Luke Devlin were chosen America East player and rookie of the week, respectively, on Nov. 29 ... UAlbany won both weekly awards for the first time since Feb. 16, 2003 ... UAlbany and Siena are squaring off for the 14th time in the women's series ... the Saints have won 10 of the previous 13 contests, including last year's 65-61 overtime decision.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information