Pogue Notches 22 Points, Nine Boards in 57-53 Loss to Siena

Wednesday, December 9

Durham, N.H.

7 PM

University of New Hampshire

6-3, 0-0AE

Siena College

4-5, 2-0MAAC

Siena

New Hampshire

Photo by: Elise Austin-Washburn

12/9/2015 10:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. -- Sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored a season-high 22 points and corralled nine rebounds, but the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team fell to Siena College, 57-53, on Wednesday night at Lundholm Gym.

UNH slipped to 6-3 on the season, while Siena stretched its winning streak to four and improved to 4-5 overall in the non-conference tilt.

Pogue knocked down 9 of 14 shots from the floor and 4 of 5 from the free throw line. Senior co-captains Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) and Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) chipped in double-digit scoring efforts of 14 and 10, respectively. Belanger played all 40 minutes, notching nine rebounds, one block and one steal. Coia ripped down six boards and dished out two assists. Sophomore guard Peyton Booth (Wadsworth, Ohio) tallied a personal best seven points coming off the bench while pulling down six rebounds.

The Wildcats converted 20 of 56 attempts from the floor to shoot 35.7 percent in the game. New Hampshire pulled down 41 boards while Siena was limited to 31 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Kollyns Scarborough turned in 12 points to lead the Saints in the scoring column. Classmate Margot Hetzke tallied eight point and nine rebounds. Junior forward Meghan Donohue, red shirt sophomore guard Denisha Petty-Evans and Scarborough all snagged three steals.

Siena shot 22 of 53 (41.5 percent) from the field, but was held to 2 of 13 (15.4 percent) from beyond the arc.

The Saints started the game with a 5-0 run out of the chute, but the 'Cats retaliated with back-to-back baskets from Belanger and Booth as the blue and white trailed 5-4 with 5:05 left in the first half. Siena distanced themselves with scores from senior forward Symone Kelly and sophomore guard Joelle Gibson. However, Pogue responded with a layup while fouled, completing the three-point play with a free throw. The Saints notched the last three points of the opening stanza as the visitors held an 11-7 lead.

Coia initiated the scoring in the second frame with a jumper in the paint, but the Saints engineered a 10-4 surge to lead 21-13 with 3:57 left in the second quarter. Booth snapped the Siena run by drawing a foul and drilling both of her free throw attempts. New Hampshire followed up with a defensive stop and Pogue converted a layup as Siena's eight-point lead was sliced in half at 21-17. Both sides exchanged scores as UNH entered the locker rooms looking up at a 23-19 deficit.

The Wildcats came out of the locker room looking to wrestle the lead away from the Saints early. UNH turned to Pogue to open the scoring in the third quarter with a basket in the paint. After consecutive layups by Siena, New Hampshire quickly mustered a five-point swing, highlighted by a Belanger 3-pointer as the home team trailed 27-26 with 7:29 remaining in the third quarter. The Saints staved off the run momentarily, tallying seven straight points. UNH swiftly responded with a 7-1 run, backboned by buckets from Belanger and Pogue to make it a one-point game again. Siena carved out a 39-35 edge entering the final 10 minutes of regulation.

The final quarter was a see-saw battle, featuring eight lead changes and a tied score. UNH made it a one-score game again as Belanger connected on another triple at the 9:36 mark to begin the fourth frame. After trading scores, the blue and white took their first lead of the evening at 45-44 as Coia knocked down a jumper from the elbow. Each side exchanged blows as New Hampshire clung onto a 51-50 advantage with 2:34 remaining in the game. Donohue converted the go-ahead basket for the Saints with 2:16 left on the clock as the 'Cats aimed to respond. The home team was stymied by the Siena defense in the waning moments of regulation. Free throws down the stretch by Donohue and Hetzke put the game out of reach for the Wildcats. Despite a late score from Booth, UNH ran out of time and was handed the 57-53 at the final buzzer.

The Wildcats visit Boston College on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m. to start a season-long five-game road trip. New Hampshire returns to Lundholm Gym on Wednesday, Jan. 13, to play host to the University at Albany in a 12 p.m. Education Day game. For tickets, visit www.unhwildcats.com or call 603-862-4000.

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