In the often-overlooked theater of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament, Siena College guard Tehresa Coles stole the spotlight with a performance that grounded an upset victory for the underdog Saints. Her defensive mastery against Iona standout Damika Martinez—one of the nation’s top scorers—was both calculated and commanding. It proved a turning point in Siena’s 71–61 triumph and left fans and analysts alike buzzing about her impact on the floor.
Setting the Stage: Iona vs. Siena
Siena arrived at the Times Union Center as the presumed underdog, Southern New York underdog number two, with a 19–11 record following a regular season that had them hovering around .500 in conference play. By contrast, Iona entered confident, led by star guard Damika Martinez, averaging a blistering 24.2 points per game—placing her among the elite scorers in all of Division I women’s basketball timesunion.com+5swishappeal.com+5sienasaints.com+5. Martinez was the centerpiece of Iona’s offense and widely regarded as a one-woman wrecking crew.
The Defensive Assignment
Head coach Ali Jaques made no secret of her defensive game plan: neutralize Martinez. Enter Tehresa Coles, a 5’9″ senior guard known for her relentless work on the defensive end. Coles, often celebrated for her effort and energy, was handed the unenviable task of shadowing one of the MAAC’s most dynamic scorers.
As the game tipped off, Coles responded with a quiet focus and assertiveness—staying low, keeping her arms active, and cutting off driving lanes. Her pressure was palpable, forcing Martinez to alter her natural rhythm. By keeping Martina’s shooting percentages in check and contesting passes and drives, Coles essentially removed Iona’s offensive anchor.
Statistical Impact
Martinez, who averaged 24.2 PPG entering the quarterfinals, was held to just 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting—an all-too-rare off night for the guard who typically lit defenses up swishappeal.com. That drop—from a season average in the mid-20s to barely half her production—speaks volumes not just of Siena’s strategy but of Coles’s execution. Though steals and deflections often go unappreciated in the box score, they were the hallmark of this game, with Coles disrupting passing lanes and initiating turnovers that led to fast-break opportunities.
Leadership and “The Grind”
Coles was unassuming in interviews about her role. “I love doing the dirty work,” she said—a fitting confession from a player who routinely dives after loose balls, switches on screens, and neutralizes opposing stars . She insisted that this level of defensive intensity wasn’t a solo effort: “My teammates and coaches feed off each other’s energy. We are a team with great chemistry.” That collective heartbeat embodied Siena’s performance both in the regular season and in this high-stakes postseason clash.
Coach Jaques echoed that sentiment, underscoring both the assignment and the audacity of trusting Coles with it. “She knew she would draw Martinez as a defensive assignment,” Jaques recalled, “but I also challenged her. She rose to the occasion” saintpeterspeacocks.com+5swishappeal.com+5sienasaints.com+5. It wasn’t just about choosing matchups—it was about fortitude, communication, and Venezuela-level resolve in key possession after key possession.
The Domino Effect
With Martinez sidelined as a scoring threat, Iona’s offense stagnated. The Saints gained confidence, running defensive stops into transition opportunities. Siena’s ball-handlers kept composure and consistently found open shooters or penetrated collapsing defenses. On the flip side, Iona lacked a secondary scorer capable of shouldering the load, and without Martinez lighting up, their entire rhythm crumbled.
Siena’s victory, fueled by Coles’s defensive bravery, wasn’t just an upset—it was beautifully orchestrated basketball: one player’s discipline altering the game’s flow, cascading into full-team dominance.
Legacy: Defensive Player of the Year
This performance wasn’t an anomaly. It crowned a season that saw Coles earn MAAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2014–15, a testament to her importance on that end of the court . Over her Siena career, she cemented herself as a four-time starter, two‑time team captain, and one of just four players in MAAC history to eclipse 1,000 points, 300 steals, and 250 assists. Defensively, she ranks as Siena’s all‑time leader in career and single‑season steals—308 and 98, respectively sienasaints.com.
Her mauling defense wasn’t measured by flashy scoring runs, but by relentless effort, keen anticipation, and unselfish hustle—after all, “defense wins championships,” even when it’s whispers rather than shouts.
Aftermath: Siena Advances, Coles Conquers
Following the victory, Siena improved to 19–11 and punched its ticket to face unbeaten Quinnipiac in the semifinals. Quinnipiac’s outside shooting (13 treys in their opener) posed a new challenge, but Siena, emboldened by Coles’s defensive leadership, embraced the uphill battle swishappeal.com.
For Coles personally, the quarterfinal stands as a pinnacle: leading a charge that bypassed talent gaps and sheer probability. To hold a high-volume scorer like Martinez to such limited production in that momentous contest showcased her kind of undervalued greatness.
Final Take: What It All Means
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Championship Defense Isn’t Just a Cliché
It’s a mindset. Coles demonstrated that truly elite defensive games aren’t based on highlight-reel steals, but on disciplined, consistent force. -
Underdogs Need More Than Talent
They need belief. Siena’s roster didn’t match Iona’s star power, but unity and a defensive identity made them a better team in that moment. -
Coles’s Legacy is Defined by Intangibles
Stats tell part of the story, but the heart is in moments like these. Holding Martinez scoreless for nearly three quarters cost Siena precious body language—but Coles flipped the switch. -
A Blueprint for Future Saints
If that game inspired future Siena players, it’s not surprise. The legacy of tough, smart, engaged defense lives in their program DNA.
Box Score Snapshot: Coles vs. Martinez
| Player | Season Avg. | In Game |
|---|---|---|
| Damika Martinez | 24.2 PPG | 12 PTS (4/13) |
| Tehresa Coles | — | Lockdown D |
Reflecting on Defensive Greatness
In a league built to celebrate points, Coles offered a reminder that games are won and lost in the gritty moments. Every charge taken, every loose ball pounced upon, every brush of hesitation she forced made the difference.
And as the 2015 MAAC Tournament showed, defense isn’t just about denying shots—it’s about unforgettable moments: a senior guard staring down a superstar and saying, “Not today.”
Concluding Thoughts
Tehresa Coles’s stellar defense in that quarterfinal win remains emblematic of what basketball is truly about—a coalition of wills, meeting at the crossroads of pressure and persistence. Her stat line won’t make highlight reels, but her imprint is permanent. It’s in the record books, the locker room stories, the ethos of future Siena teams. Her legacy: a reminder that defense, when insisted upon, can reshape a tournament—and carve a champion out of an underdog.
