Duanesburg’s Allison O’Hanlon feeling right at home with Siena

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — When Allison O’Hanlon played her final high school basketball game, Section II defenses and opposing coaches took a collective sigh of relief. And now it’s time for the former Duanesburg High School standout to put her talents on display at the Division I level.

O’Hanlon is into her first summer workouts with Siena women’s basketball. The incoming freshman guard was one of the most accomplished Capital Region high school hoopers of all-time. O’Hanlon is coming off a season in which she eclipsed 2,000 career points, and broke the girls New York State record for career three-pointers. She’ll look to bring that shooter’s touch to the Saints.

O’Hanlon announced her commitment to Siena in the summer of her sophomore year at Duanesburg, so this opportunity to compete at the next level has been a long time coming.

“Day one when I was in the locker room and putting on my shoes, it was kind of just a surreal, hit-me-in-the-face moment,” said O’Hanlon. “Like, “wow, I’m actually starting to live out my dreams here at Siena.” It’s definitely been a transition, but everybody’s welcomed me with open arms – the staff, the school, my teammates. From day one, they’ve made it a priority to help me get acclimated. It has been a transition, but it’s been pretty smooth. And I definitely feel like a piece of the puzzle with these guys.”

Siena first-year head coach Terry Primm recruited O’Hanlon when he was an assistant under previous head coach Jim Jabir. So, once Jabir retired and Primm was promoted, O’Hanlon said she had no second thoughts about staying committed to Siena.

And in the first few days with the team, she’s been every bit the player and person that Primm saw in high school.

“Her attitude…she has a passion for the game,” said Primm. “But even more so, she has a passion for Siena and for her sisters. The Siena sisterhood is really strong right now, and Allison has a lot to do with that. We love her spirit, but she shoots the ball incredibly well, and she has a strong desire to be better. So, every day we get a chance to spend with her has been a treat for us.”

O’Hanlon is one of six freshmen that Siena has brought in this season.

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