Siena’s Benitez to transfer
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. » First-team All-MAAC star Jackie Benitez has been granted her release from Siena, an athletic department spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday.
The sophomore guard lead the Saints in scoring at 16.6 points per game, and was a staunch defensive presence as well. It is unclear where she intends to continue her college career.
Siena had not released an official statement with comment from head coach Ali Jaques as of press time on Wednesday evening.
Benitez was a hot and cold player for Siena this season. She struggled to shoot during a 2-10 stretch in the early part of the season, but clearly had potential. She posted her best game of year on Jan. 12 when she scored 34 points against Monmouth at the Times Union Center.
“We thank Jackie for the con-
tributions that she made to our program over the past two years, and wish her the best with her future plans,” said head coach Ali Jaques.
She was 3- of-12 from the field and didn’t even take a 3-point shot in the 67- 47 season- ending loss to Iona in the quarterfinals of the MAAC Tournament.
Per NCAA transfer rules, Benitez will have to sit out next season if she attends a Division I school.
Men’s lacrosse
UALBANY 20, CANISIUS 11 » With a 15-goal first half and 13 different players scoring goals, the # 8/9 UAlbany men’s lacrosse team earned its fifth consecutive victory with a 20-11 road win over Canisius on Tuesday.
UAlbany (5-1) outscored Canisius (3- 4) 15- 6 in the first half, including a ninegoal second quarter. It is the fifth consecutive game that UAlbany has won by at least nine goals.
As a team, UAlbany won 26 out of 35 faceoffs, spearheaded by TD Ierlan and Zach Ornstein. Ierlan was 16-for-18 from the X while Ornstein was 10-for17. The Great Danes also grabbed 40 ground balls to Canisius’s 28.
“Anytime you can go on the road for a midweek game and come away with a win is a sign of a mentally tough team,” said UAlbany head coach Scott Marr.
College baseball
BROWN13, UALBANY 5 » Another impromptu schedule change for the University at Albany baseball team (7- 6) saw the Great Danes pay a quick visit to Brown (4- 6) on Tuesday for one game in place of the doubleheader against Saint Peter’s the team lost due to unplayable field conditions. UAlbany fell by a score of 13- 5, bringing the Danes’ threegame winning streak to a close.
UAlbany almost immediately found itself facing a significant deficit, giving up five runs in the bottom of the first inning, and four more runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Men’s basketball BISPING, WRIGHT HONORED » Siena Basketball redshirt senior forward Brett Bisping and senior guard Marquis Wright have been lauded as National Association of Basketball Coaches ( NABC) District I Second Team selections. The duo was amongst five student athletes named to the Second Team, which is selected and voted upon by member
coaches of the NABC.
This marks the second straight season in which the Saints have placed a member on an NABC AllDistrict team. Bisping received NABC District I First Team honors last season, and is being honored for the fourth time in his career by the organization. In 2015, Bisping was named to both the NABC Honors Court and the NABC Allstate Goodworks Team.
A native of Peoria, Illinois, Bisping averaged 12.3 points this season and was tabbed both a Second Team All-MAAC and MAAC All- Tournament Team selection. He posted 13 doubledoubles and led the MAAC in rebounding for the second straight season with 9.7 caroms, which currently ranks 24th nationally. Bisping graduates as the only player in Siena Basketball history to eclipse both 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds for his career, as he departs ranking 11th alltime in program history in scoring (1,528) and fourth in rebounding (1,024).
wright joined Bisping in also being named both a Second Team All-MAAC and MAAC All-Tournament Team honoree. The Waldorf, Maryland standout was a two-time MAAC Player of the Week who ranked third in the conference in assists (5.0) and sixth in scoring (16.8). He also recently wrapped up a brilliant career in which he now ranks third all-time in Siena Basketball history in assists (614), fifth in steals (199), and 10th in scoring (1,546).
NCWA wrestling
RPI 28TH AT NATIONALS » Niskayuna grad Khaled Abdoun placed 8th at 235 pounds, placing himself on the podium earning All-American status as a sophomore. Khaled becomes RPI’s 7th wrestling All-American under head coach Brad Nelson.
Alex Petersen went 1-2 at 125 pounds, Kitan Salako went 1-2 at 133 pounds, Austin Wilson went 1-2 record at 141 pounds, Matt Mawby went 1-2 at 149 pounds, Ryan Ford went 1-2 at 184 pounds and Jose Gandarill went 1-2 at 285 pounds.