HAMDEN, CT - The Merrimack College women's basketball team travels to Hamden this Saturday to take on first-place Quinnipiac. Tip off from M&T Bank Arena is set for 2 P.M.
Warriors Are Here To Play!
The Warriors are rolling in the New Year, winning eight of their last ten games. The Merrimack defense has kept opponents under 60 points in six of those games. In a 24 point victory over Iona and two season-series clinching wins last week, Lydia Melaschenko exploded for 19 total 3-pointers. 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. Oralye Kiefer scored a career high 22 points in the teams latest game against Iona. She hit six three-pointers. Four other Warriors scored in double-digits in the win. Molly Manion exploded for 27 against 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 a matinee win over Iona, Melaschenko played in all 40 minutes and scored 16 with three 3-pointers. 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.
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, two shy of a program record. In the teams 24 point win over the Iona Gaels last Thursday, Roman made it 10 straight games recording a double-double. The streak was extended on 12 points and 16 boards. In the teams game against Mount Saint Mary's she scored 14, tallying 18 rebounds. During the ten game span, Roman has averaged 15.1 ppg and 15.4 rpg.
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. Kiefer set a career high in points with 22 in the teams win over the Gaels on Thursday, going 6 for 9 from three points range. 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.
Defending Like Warriors
The Warriors have allowed under 60 points in seven of their last ten games and under 70 in nine of their last ten games. Madison Roman leads the conference in defensive rebounds with 152 and Paloma Garcia is fifth in the MAAC in steals. Merrimack leads the conference as a team with 82 total blocked shots, highlighted by 45 from Oralye Kiefer.
