LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Siena Women's Basketball freshman guard Jackie Benitez has been named the MAAC Rookie of the Week. The Tobyhanna, Pa. product averaged 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals in just 19.5 minutes off the bench last weekend in leading the Saints to the program's first 2-0 MAAC start in five years.

Benitez's recognition continues a recent string of marked success by Siena freshmen. Since the start of the 2013-14 season the Saints have now boasted the MAAC's Rookie of the Week a whopping 15 times in 37 weeks, with Benitez becoming the fifth different Siena player to earn recognition over that time.

On Friday, Benitez posted season-highs of 15 points, five rebounds and four steals in just 17 minutes off the bench in the Saints' 69-63 win at Monmouth. She canned the three that gave Siena the lead for good and scored 12 of her 15 points in the second half. After the Hawks had rallied within six late, Benitez came up with a huge steal in the waning seconds, was fouled and hit two clutch free throws to ice the win.

Benitez scored seven of her nine points off the bench in the second half and added three steals in Siena's 59-58 overtime win over Saint Peter's Sunday at the ARC. She swiped another key steal and then proceeded to hit the go-ahead three that put the Saints back in front in the third quarter after they had trailed by nine. Although the game would ultimately go to overtime, Siena would not trail again after the freshman's big play.

Benitez currently ranks second on the Saints averaging 8.1 points in 18.4 minutes while coming off the bench this season, and stands second in the MAAC in free throw percentage (.870) and eighth in steals (1.8).

Winners of three straight, Benitez and the Saints return to action Wednesday night for a 7 p.m. tip at New Hampshire.