#CLINCHED
The Warriors are heading to Atlantic City in March after officially clinching the three seed last week. The Warriors will face the #6 seeded team on Saturday, March 7th, at 2:30 p.m. Over the past 17 games, the Warriors have been victorious in 13, holding opponents to under 60 points in nine of them. Last Thursday, it was Madison Roman who paved the way for the Warriors to win their fifth straight game (ended on Saturday against Manhattan) and complete the season sweep against the Sacred Heart Pioneers.Over the weekend prior, the Warriors took down Siena by 19 in a total team effort. Four Warriors scoring in double-digits, with Lydia Melaschenko leading the pack with 22. Last Thursday, the Warriors used a 4th quarter buzzer beater to force overtime, where they eventually emerged winners against Marist. The win marked their 4th season sweep of the season. The Warriors held Rider to under 40 two weeks ago, a feat that the Warriors have only achieved twice in the past two seasons. Senior Lydia Melaschenko broke the single-season program record for 3-pointers (77) with a three pointer in the 3rd quarter.
Who to Watch
Not only does Lydia Melaschenko lead the MAAC in 3-pointers per game, she is sixth in THE NATION in 3-pointers per game, averaging 3.07 per game. Lydia hit four against Siena (22 pts) on Valentines Day, and four against Rider two weeks ago to break the single-season program record for 3-pointers. It was six treys in the 22 points win over Sacred Heart last that brought her within striking distance of the record. Melaschenko has hit 35 3's (3.5 per game) over the past ten games.
The MAAC's leading rebounder Madison Roman had 10 rebounds and 17 points against Manhattan on Saturday. It was her 16th double-double of the season. She tallied nine rebounds in a come-from-behind victory over Sacred Heart last Thursday. She totaled a career high six steals in a full 40 minutes of play. Roman added a double-double after putting up 12 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Siena two weeks ago. She exploded for 23 points in the overtime win over Marist the very next game
Paloma Power!
Junior guard Paloma Garcia has scored in double figures in four straight games and seven of her last eight. Over the eight game span, she has posted five or more rebounds in six of them.
Defending Like Warriors
The Warriors have allowed under 60 points in 11 of their last 17 games and under 70 in 14 of their last 17 games. Madison Roman leads the conference in defensive rebounds with 206 and Paloma Garcia is third in the MAAC in steals with 63. Merrimack is first in the conference as a team with 111 total blocked shots, highlighted by 60 from graduate student Oralye Kiefer.
