Sept. 10, 2009

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - The Siena athletic department released its 2009 women's basketball non-conference schedule Thursday afternoon. The nine-game slate includes four home games (three at Alumni Recreation Center and one at Times Union Center) and five away games.

"We are excited with the balance and competitiveness of our non-conference schedule," Head Coach Gina Castelli said. "We are very excited to go to the home town of Allie Lindemann (Champaign, Illinois) and the home state of Charlieann Chacon (Arizona). We have always tried to give our players an opportunity to play close to home."

The Saints open 2009 at the University of Illinois on Sunday, November 15. It is the first meeting between the two programs. Siena's home opener is scheduled for Friday, November 20 in a return game with Eastern Michigan. Siena and EMU met for the first time last season and the Eagles won 68-54 in overtime.

Siena goes on the road to play three games in five days, beginning with Wagner in Staten Island on Tuesday, November 24. Siena last played Wagner in Castelli's first season as head coach with the Saints winning 72-45. From there, the Saints fly west to compete in the Northern Arizona Tournament where they play the host Lumberjacks on Friday, November 27 and Belmont/Oregon State on Saturday, November 28.

Siena returns home to play Binghamton on Wednesday, December 2 and then plays the first game of a Siena/UAlbany women's and men's doubleheader at Times Union Center on Saturday, December 5 at 5 p.m.

On Sunday, December 13 the Saints play at James Madison University. JMU defeated Siena 87-62 in Loudonville last season. The non-conference schedule concludes on Wednesday, December 30 with a home game against Sacred Heart.

Castelli, entering her 20th season, is going for her 300th win in Siena's season opener against Illinois.