ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The Merrimack College women's basketball team takes on the Mountaineers of Mount St. Mary's this Saturday from Boardwalk at 2:30 p.m.
Playoff Time
The MAAC playoffs have arrived and the Warriors are set for a quarterfinals matchup against the Mountaineers of Mount St. Mary's this Saturday at 2:30. Over the past eight games, the Warriors have been victorious in seven, holding opponents to under 60 points in five of them. The Warriors were winners of their final two games last weekend against Canisius and Niagara. Madison Roman earned MAAC Player of the Week for her efforts, averaging 23.5 ppg and 13 rpg. Oralye Kiefer also posted a career high 23 points against Canisius in the dominant win. The week prior, 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.
The Award Mantel
The Warriors hauled in numerous end of season awards to cap off their regular season. Head coach Kelly Morrone won MAAC coach of the year, the third time winning the prestige honor (two previous wins were with John Carroll, OAC Coach of the Year). Paloma Garcia won defensive player of the year to go with an All-MAAC defensive team honor. Oralye Kiefer was also selected to the team after leading the conference in blocks. Madison Roman was selected to All-MAAC first team after leading the conference in rebounds and being 12th in the nation in the same category. Lydia Melaschenko took home All-MAAC third team honors after leading the conference in 3-pointers and for breaking the programs single season 3-point record.
Who to Watch
The MAAC's leading rebounder Madison Roman totaled 26 boards in two big wins over Canisius and Niagara on last weekend. She averaged 23.5 points per game and came one point shy of a career high against Canisius. She ended the season with 17 double-doubles, which is 12th in the NCAA. Roman had 10 rebounds and 17 points against Manhattan on Saturday. 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.
Not only does Lydia Melaschenko lead the MAAC in 3-pointers per game, she is 12th in the nation in 3-pointers per game, averaging 2.97 per game. Lydia hit four against Siena (22 pts) on Valentines Day, and four against Rider last month to break the single-season program record for 3-pointers.
Paloma Power!
Defensive player of the year Paloma Garcia tallied a program record for steals in a game with nine in the teams win over Canisius last Thursday. She has scored in double figures in four of her last six games and seven of her last ten. Over the ten game span, she has posted five or more rebounds in four of them.
