LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — Siena College women’s basketball coach Gina Castelli knew Lily Grenci was a great basketball player.

It wasn’t until a trip overseas in August did she get the chance to show it.

Due to injuries and playing as a reserve, the Mars High graduate didn’t get her big chance until her junior season.

“I definitely knew it could be a big year because I had a great summer and I knew my role opened up,” Grenci said.

“We lost our leading scorer and I knew my team needed me. This was my chance.”

That summer foreign tour in Denmark and Italy has translated into a very confident Grenci, a 6-foot-1 forward and a captain with the Saints.

Grenci, is leading the team in points (15.0) and rebounding (6.7) per contest) and is among the leaders in both categories in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

She was honored with the MAAC Player of the Week with a 23-point, 18-rebound performance Nov. 25 against North Carolina A&T.

A foot injury as a freshman cost Grenci the first eight games, but she but saw action in 18 of the final 21 games of the year, then last season, she was the team’s top reserve, averaging 3.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in just 13 minutes per game.

Grenci was also named to the MAAC All-Academic Team as well.

“She’s gotten in better shape,” Castelli said. “She’s gotten strong and she ate better.

“When we went overseas, we had lost two post players to graduation and she proved herself in Europe. She showed she was ready. It was just a matter if she stayed healthy and, right now, she’s doing all the right things,” Castelli added.

The Saints suffered two losses in Denmark to the Danish National Team (Aug. 15 at Horsholm and Aug. 16 at Farumi) before picking up two victories in Italy (Aug. 19 against the TDT Slammers in Castellanza and Aug. 20 against the Italy All-Stars in Rome).

Grenci led the team, averaging 17.5 points and eight rebounds per contest as well as field-goal percentage (54.8).

“It was a confidence booster,” Grenci noted.

Grenci, who holds the Planets’ records in points (1,718) and rebounds (more than 1,000), believed the points would come, but knew she had to take care of the other side as well.

“Rebounding is something I always focus on,” Grenci said. “Even if the ball is not falling, you can always rebound.”

The Saints have gotten off to their usual slow start at 1-6, but Grenci believes this team will continue to develop, especially since the start of conference play is now just around the corner.

“We’re a very young team,” Grenci said. “I’m the only junior, we have two seniors, six sophomores and four freshmen.

“Every game’s been close. We know it’s a good team. We’re learning and we’ll be peaking at the right time,” she added.

And Castelli knows a healthy Grenci will be huge in that development.

“Nothing really surprises me,” Castelli said. “When Lily did practice the past two years, she showed glimpses. She’s a very diligent player. She expects a lot from herself.”