Player of the Week
Lydia Melashenko, Merrimack
Sr., Ontario, Canada, Capital Courts Academy
In two big wins this week, senior Lydia Melaschenko averaged 26 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. In the matchup against Saint Peter's on Thursday, Melaschenko played the full 40 minutes and scored 28 points. Lydia finished one three-pointer shy of a program record, splashing eight 3's. The 28 points were a career-high for Melaschenko. On Saturday, Melaschenko closed in on program history once again, making eight three-pointers. She came down with six rebounds and added two steals.
Rookie of the Week
Francesca Schiro, Siena
Fr., Hillsborough, NJ, Hillsborough
Francesca Schiro recorded her seventh 20-point performance of the season and narrowly missed her second double-double, finishing with 26 points and nine rebounds in her lone appearance of the week. The freshman played all 40 minutes for the first time in her career, pouring in a game-high 26 points at Marist on Thursday. She also led the Saints with nine rebounds and tied for the team lead with three assists.
The 2025-26 campaign culminates with the 2026 Air Force Reserve MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 5-10 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 2026 will be the seventh consecutive year Boardwalk Hall will host the annual championship dating back to 2020. For the second straight season, the championship field will feature the conference's top 10 teams. Additionally, with the shift of the basketball championship schedule to a week earlier, the women’s championship game will be a standalone contest on Monday, March 9, while the men’s championship game will air live nationally on ESPN or ESPN2 on Tuesday, March 10. For all information regarding the 2026 Air Force Reserve MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit
MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on X.
Air Force Reserve
The mission of the Air Force Reserve is to provide combat-ready forces to fly, fight, and win in air, space, and cyberspace, whenever and wherever needed. As a critical component of the United States Air Force, the Air Force Reserve supports global operations while remaining ready to respond to domestic emergencies and humanitarian efforts. It is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping Reserve Citizen Airmen to execute a wide range of missions that contribute to national defense and global security.
The Air Force Reserve offers part-time and full-time service options, enabling individuals to serve while maintaining civilian careers or pursuing higher education. Each year, the Reserve recruits thousands of enlisted and officer personnel across core specialties including Aviation, Maintenance, Intelligence, Cyber, Medical, Security Forces, and Logistics. This flexibility allows members to develop valuable skills, gain leadership experience, and serve their country with pride.
More information about Air Force Reserve careers and opportunities is available at:
https://www.airforce.com/ways-to-serve/air-force-reserve.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 13 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 45th year of competition during the 2025-26 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius University, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan University, Marist University, Merrimack College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena University.
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