NORTH ANDOVER, MA - The Merrimack College womens basketball team welcomes the Iona Gaels to Lawler Arena this Thursday at 11 a.m. for a matinee contest. Tune in on ESPN+ AND NESN.
Warriors Are Here To Play!
The Warriors are rolling in the New Year, winning seven of their last nine games. The Merrimack defense has kept opponents under 60 points in six of those games. In two season-series clinching wins last week, Lydia Melaschenko exploded for 16 total 3-pointers in back to back games. She made eight against Saint Peter's just to do the same thing again on Saturday in a double-digit victory over Mount St. Mary's. Molly Manion exploded for 27 against the Mount St. Mary's, the most of her career. She shot over 50% from the field making 12 shots, the most by a Merrimack player this season. Madison Roman has been electric tallying nine straight double-doubles. In the win over Saint Peter's last week she finished two rebounds shy of a program record with 22.
Who to Watch
Not only does Lydia Melaschenko lead the MAAC in 3-pointers per game, she leads THE NATION in 3-pointers per game, averaged 3.32 per game. In two wins last week she hit 8 3-pointers each, one shy of the program record of nine. She scored 28 against the Peacocks, and 24 against the Mountaineers earning herself a MAAC Player of the Week selection. She has six 3-pointers in three of her last five games. Melaschenko electrified the Warriors second half domination with four three pointers in the win over Saint Peter's. She is up to 12 games where she has scored in double-figures.
The MAAC's leading rebounder Madison Roman set a career high in rebounds last week when she came down with 22 against Saint Peter's. This is two short of a program record. In the last game against Mount Saint Mary's she extended her double-double to nine games, scoring 14 and tallying 18 rebounds. During the nine game span, Roman has averaged 15.4 ppg and 14.4 rpg. In the teams game against Iona when she shot over 50%, scored 13, and came down with 12 rebounds. She scored 21 and came down with 13 rebounds against Siena, her fourth game scoring over 20 points.
Grad Year Balling
The conference leader in blocks, Oralye Kiefer, is averaging 2.5 blocks per game. She is tied for 10th in the nation in blocks per game. In the teams game against the Peacocks last week she added 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with five blocked shots. That was her second double-double of the season and the most blocks in a game. She had 10 points in their midweek matchup against Iona two weeks ago while also adding on six rebounds.
Defending Like Warriors
The Warriors have allowed under 60 points in seven of their last nine games and under 70 in eight of their last nine games. Madison Roman leads the conference in defensive rebounds with 142 and Paloma Garcia is fourth in the MAAC in steals. Merrimack leads the conference as a team with 78 total blocked shots, highlighted by 41 from Oralye Kiefer.
