Talk about a big moment for Siena women’s basketball! They’re hitting MVP Arena on Sunday for their first game there in four years. That’s right, *four years* since they’ve graced that bigger stage. They’re squaring off against Binghamton at 4 p.m., right after the men’s team faces Princeton. This isn’t just another game, folks. This is a rare, high-stakes appearance that could mean a ton for the program.
From the UHY Center to the Big Lights
Let’s be real, Siena women usually play their home games at the UHY Center in Loudonville. It’s their campus spot, cozy with 2,148 seats. The last time they were downtown at MVP Arena was way back on November 16, 2022, when they lost 69-63 to St. Bonaventure. Back then, current head coach Terry Primm was still just a second-year assistant. Since that game, the focus has been all on building up that home-court advantage at the UHY. And the numbers, they tell a story: they drew 445 fans for their opening win against Brown at UHY this past Monday, and last season, they averaged 564 per home game. You gotta appreciate the hustle to make a smaller venue loud.
Coach Primm Wants More, But There’s a Catch
Here’s the kicker from Coach Primm himself: “We’d love more opportunities to go there (to MVP Arena),” but he also hit us with the truth, “The biggest issue is being able to pack the UHY out and have a justification to go down there (to Albany) because, of course, being a bigger space, the homecourt vibe we get at UHY is compromised a little bit in a bigger space.” It’s a classic conundrum, right? You want to play in the bigger arena, but you don’t want to lose that electric atmosphere you’ve worked so hard to build. Under previous coaches Gina Castelli and Ali Jaques, the team played at least one, and sometimes multiple, regular-season home games at MVP Arena annually, often as part of a men’s doubleheader. This Sunday’s game is part of a doubleheader mainly because it makes staffing both games easier, and it’s the *only* time this season both teams are scheduled to play at home on the same day. Plus, the athletic department is already stretched thin with the women’s soccer team hosting a Metro Conference first-round match on Hickey Field at noon.
Siena’s women are currently sitting at 1-1 after a loss at Maine on Thursday, but they’re picked to finish second in the Metro Conference. Coach Primm is hopeful some fans will stick around after the men’s game wraps up, since the women’s game starts an hour later. “People have been positive about what we’ve been doing over the last couple of years with this team, in particular,” Primm said, “I would expect a few to stay.” You gotta love that confidence! This game is also part of the new America East-Metro Challenge, which adds another layer of intrigue. And for a cool historical note, Binghamton coach Mary (McKissack) Grimes actually played many times at MVP Arena herself, back when it was called Pepsi Arena, as a Siena guard from 1999 to 2003. Talk about coming full circle!
This Sunday isn’t just another game for Siena. It’s a chance for the team to show out in a bigger venue, for Coach Primm to make his case for more big-arena games, and for fans to show they can bring that UHY energy downtown. Will the fans stay? Will the team seize this rare opportunity? You won’t want to miss it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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