LOUDONVILLE, NY - The accolades keep coming for Siena Women's Basketball freshman Francesca Schiro, who has now been named the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Year following a standout debut season.
 
Schiro's latest honor adds to an already decorated freshman campaign after she was previously a unanimous choice for Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Year. She also earned Second Team All-MAAC recognition and unanimous All-Rookie Team honors.
 
The Hillsborough, NJ, native made her mark immediately, leading the MAAC with seven Rookie of the Week selections—four more than any other freshman—and tying for the second-most in program history. Her success extended beyond the conference, earning national recognition as a two-time Mid-Major Madness Player of the Week and collecting U.S. Basketball Writers Association Co-Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 10.
 
Schiro paced Siena offensively throughout the season, averaging 17.1 points per game to rank second in the MAAC and fifth nationally among freshmen while placing inside the top 80 overall in Division I. She elevated her performance in conference play, leading all MAAC scorers with 18.5 points per game.
 
A consistent offensive force, Schiro recorded 11 20-point games—second-most in the conference—including eight in MAAC play. She shot 44.3% from the field, ranking among the league's top guards, and proved to be a dynamic all-around contributor.
 
In addition to her scoring, Schiro averaged 3.5 assists per game—good for fourth in the MAAC—and improved to 4.1 assists per contest in conference action. She also ranked sixth in the league with 1.9 steals per game, showcasing her impact on both ends of the floor.
 
Her season was highlighted by a 32-point performance at Niagara, one of the top scoring efforts in the MAAC this year, as she became one of just nine players in the conference to reach the 30-point mark. She also contributed on the glass, averaging 5.6 rebounds per game in conference play—ranking among the league's top guards.
 
ABOUT THE ECAC
The ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) is an eighty-five-year-old organization with well over 200 member schools across all three NCAA Divisions - I, II and III. The ECAC exists to enhance the experience of student-athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics and provides great value for universities and colleges by sponsoring championships, leagues, bowl games, tournaments and other competitions throughout the Northeast. The ECAC also hosts a comprehensive esports program that presently involves 160 schools fielding 1100 teams across 14 different esports games, streamed live four nights a week. The ECAC's esports platform has and continues to expand the geographic footprint of the Conference nationally.