ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — With excitement building around the upcoming 2026-27 season, Siena Women's Basketball was selected second in the 2026 Metro Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league announced Wednesday. The Saints' selection marks the second time in the last three seasons under head coach
Terry Primm that Siena has been tabbed as a top-two favorite in the conference.
Siena received 141 points to finish second in the 13-team poll, trailing only preseason favorite Fairfield, which received all 13 first-place votes and 169 points. Sacred Heart (134), Iona (127), and Mount St. Mary's (108) rounded out the top five.
The Saints also placed three players on Preseason All-Metro teams, led by sophomore
Francesca Schiro, who was unanimously selected to the First Team. Sophomore
Kaiya Rain Tucker earned Second Team honors, while redshirt junior
Nicole Melious was named to the Third Team.
Schiro returns for her sophomore season following a historic freshman campaign. The ECAC Rookie of the Year and unanimous MAAC Rookie of the Year averaged a team-leading 17.1 points per game, ranking second in the MAAC and fifth nationally among freshmen. She also led all MAAC players with 18.5 points per game in conference play and earned a league-high seven MAAC Rookie of the Week honors.
Schiro scored 20 or more points 11 times last season, including a career-best 32 points at Niagara, while also ranking among the MAAC leaders in assists and steals. She was named Siena Athletics Female Rookie of the Year and earned Second Team All-MAAC and unanimous All-Rookie Team recognition.
Tucker enters her sophomore season after earning a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie Team in 2025-26. She led Siena and ranked fifth in the conference with 8.2 rebounds per game while also ranking third in the MAAC with 1.36 blocks per contest. Tucker averaged 8.1 points per game and recorded all three of her double-doubles during conference play.
Melious rounds out Siena's preseason honorees after starting all 30 games last season and averaging 10.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. She led the Saints with 55 made three-pointers and totaled 62 assists and 34 steals. Melious posted a career-high 12 rebounds at Iona and scored a season-best 25 points at Manhattan.
Fairfield's Kaety L'Amoreaux was selected as the unanimous Metro Preseason Player of the Year.
Siena will open its 2026-27 campaign on Monday, Nov. 2 against Brown at UHY Center.
2026-27 Siena Women's Basketball season tickets are on sale now and can be secured through the following avenues:
Siena Fan Relations Management Center
WBB Renewals: Reference e-mail received or contact Siena FRMC directly
WBB New Season Tickets:
sienasaints.com/wbbtickets
By Phone: (518) 487-2235
By E-Mail: sienatickets2@siena.edu
Additional Information:
sienasaints.com/tickets
2026 Metro Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
|
Team |
Points |
| 1 |
Fairfield |
169 (13) |
| 2 |
Siena |
141 |
| 3 |
Sacred Heart |
134 |
| 4 |
Iona |
127 |
| 5 |
Mount St. Mary's |
108 |
| 6 |
Quinnipiac |
103 |
| 7 |
Marist |
87 |
| 8 |
Manhattan |
83 |
| 9 |
Merrimack |
80 |
| 10 |
Saint Peter's |
50 |
| 11 |
Rider |
43 |
| 12 |
Canisius |
42 |
| 13 |
Niagara |
16 |
Preseason Player of the Year
Kaety L'Amoreaux (Fairfield) – Unanimous
Preseason All-Metro First Team
Francesca Schiro (Siena)*, Kaety L'Amoreaux (Fairfield)*, Justine Henry (Marist)*, Oralye Kiefer (Sacred Heart), Meghan Andersen (Fairfield), Shariah Gailes (Canisius)
*Unanimous
Preseason All-Metro Second Team
Nalyce Dudley (Sacred Heart), Cyanne Coe (Fairfield),
Kaiya Rain Tucker (Siena), Jillian Huerter (Fairfield), Alana Powell (Mount St. Mary's), Mya Zaccagnini (Iona), Aliya McIver (Rider)
Preseason All-Metro Third Team
Lana McCarthy (Fairfield), Paige Kohler (Fairfield), Danielle Williamsen (Marist),
Nicole Melious (Siena), Sophie Nascimento (Sacred Heart), Kristina Juric (Manhattan)
