Athletics has a long and storied tradition at Siena Heights. During the period when Siena was an all-women’s college, it was known for its achievements in women’s basketball. Siena began intercollegiate athletics for both men and women in the early 1970s, first taking the nickname “Cannonballers” for one year before being renamed the “Saints.” Academics and athletics go hand-in-hand at Siena Heights. In 2006-07 student-athletes had a combined 3.01 gpa. The Saints compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.