LOUDONVILLE, NY - The league spoke. Clearly. Francesca Schiro was the unanimous selection for Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Year, claiming every vote from the conference's head coaches. The Siena Women's Basketball freshman also garnered Second Team All-MAAC and unanimous All-Rookie Team honors, while Kaiya Rain Tucker secured MAAC All-Rookie Team acclaim, as announced by the league Wednesday ahead of the start of the MAAC Championships Thursday. 
 
Now the seventh MAAC Rookie of the Year in program history, Schiro led the MAAC with seven Rookie of the Week selections—four more than any other freshman in the conference—and tied for the second-most weekly rookie honors in program history. She also garnered national recognition as a two-time Mid-Major Madness Player of the Week and was named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Co-Freshman of the Week on Feb. 10.
 
The Hillsborough, NJ, native paced Siena with 17.1 points per game, ranking second in the MAAC and fifth nationally among freshmen, while sitting 76th overall in Division I scoring. She elevated her play in conference action, leading the MAAC with 18.5 points per game in league contests.
 
The freshman standout recorded 11 20-point performances this season—the second-most in the MAAC—including eight 20-point outings in conference play, also second in the league. She shot 44.3% from the field, ranking 14th in the conference and third among MAAC guards.

A well-rounded threat, Schiro tied for fourth in the MAAC averaging 3.5 assists per game, and ranked third in conference-only games at 4.1 assists per contest. She also placed sixth in the league with 1.9 steals per game.
 
Her 32-point performance at Niagara marked the second-highest scoring output in a MAAC game this season and tied for the third-most overall. She was one of just nine MAAC players to record a 30-point game this year. Additionally, her 5.6 rebounds per game in conference play ranked among the league's top 20 as well as sixth among guards.
 
Tucker, who put together a dominant season in the paint, earns MAAC All-Rookie Team honors after being named MAAC Rookie of the Week once this season. The Philadelphia, PA, native ranked third in the MAAC with 1.9 blocks per game and fifth with 8.0 rebounds per contest.
 
She nearly averaged a double-double in conference play, posting 10.2 points and 9.4 rebounds across 18 league games. Tucker recorded a team-best four double-doubles this season and tallied eight 10-rebound performances—the most on the squad. Her career-high 17-rebound performance at Rider on Feb. 26 ranks second in the conference for an individual game high. 
 
Tucker scored in double figures 10 times, highlighted by a career-high 23-point outing at Manhattan on Feb. 8, and shot a team-best 45.2% from the field—ranking 11th in the MAAC.
 
The Saints will travel to Atlantic City, NJ, for their MAAC Quarterfinal matchup against fourth-seeded Iona at noon on Saturday, Mar. 7.