LOUDONVILLE, NY - The Merrimack College women's basketball team won their fifth straight game this Saturday against Siena and improved to 5-1 in the MAAC. Lydia Melaschenko and Madison Roman led the charge, combining for 43 points.
The Warriors are one game behind a first place tie between Fairfield and Quinnipiac, anb Merrimack's only conference loss is to the Fairfield in the conference opener.
"Just a steady intensity on whatever chapter is next," Merrimack head coach Kelly Morrone said. "I think we've grown from game to game differently. I think their adjusting to the different styles of play that the MAAC has to offer and the maturity is definitely serving us well. We've got juniors and seniors and the new kids are just mixing in just wonderfully."
Roman achieved her fifth straight double-double, hitting double-figures in points and rebounds before halftime and finishing the game with 21 points and 13 rebounds. She made 7-of-14 field goals and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the foul line. Roman also added a season high six assists and two blocks.
"I just have to pretend it's my job, I can't think of it any differently," Roman said. "I'm here to play, I'm here to put my best foot forward every day. There's no breaks, there's no anything, I just have to get that everyday."
"What I loved when I was recruiting her, to be a post that has that type of vision, and she can distribute the way she does and set her teammates the way she does," Morrone said. "It makes her really really special."
Melaschenko was electric from three making 6-for-10 from behind the arc on the way to a career-high 22 points.
"I'm just so happy I was able to knock them down for my team to get this win," Melaschenko said. "It's our fifth win in a row and I'm just so happy I was able to contribute."
"All of a sudden she gets unleashed, once one goes in and she sees it goe down, she becomes a mad woman," Morrone said.
Oralye Kiefer made it nine straight games scoring in double figures. Kiefer made 6-of-10 from the field and scored 15 points, along with notching six rebounds, five assists, and a block. Paloma Garcia stayed hot scoring 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting. Garcia and had five rebounds to go along with three steals.
Merrimack's 82 points were the most scored against a MAAC team since joining the conference last season. The Warriors shot 18-of-19 from the foul line.
"It's a fight every night, literally it's a fight every night," Roman said. "You have to want it more than the other team and the heart is what's going to win."
The Warriors head to Iona next Wednesday to face the Gaels in a matinee matchup. Tip off from New Rochelle is at 11 a.m.
