March 11, 2025
One reason why each team will — or won’t — win the MAAC Tournament
By Ben Yeargin
10 teams will gun for the MAAC Tournament title, but only one can win
March is officially upon us, meaning that it’s also time for the MAAC Tournament. 10 teams will battle in Atlantic City for an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
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There’s 10 stories to be told, and eight of them won’t make it to Saturday. But, we don’t know which eight. March is madness, anyone can win, so below are a reason each team will and won’t win the MAAC Tournament.
1. Fairfield
Why they’ll win
Because of their core of players. Fairfield has a lot of experience on their roster with winning the MAAC Tournament. All-MAAC First Teamer and sophomore roadrunner Meghan Andersen is still there, as is sophomore guard and All-MAAC Second Teamer Kaety L’Amoreaux.
In fact, nine of the 15 women on the Stags roster were on their MAAC championship-winning side last season. With head coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis on the bench and the familiar core on the court that knows how to get the job done in Atlantic City, the Stags will have a good chance to go back-to-back.
Why they won’t
Fairfield lost only one MAAC game this year, it was on the last day against Quinnipiac. The Bobcats blew them out 23-7 in the first quarter, and the Stags couldn’t rebound from that.
“We needed to focus on our controlables, and we didn’t do that very well,” Andersen told The Next.
In fact, in Fairfield’s four losses this year, it lost the first quarter by a combined margin of 81-35. On Saturday, it rallied back and even took a lead, but it didn’t have the momentum to keep that lead.
If the Stags are going to lose and get knocked out of the MAAC Tournament, it’ll be because they lost the first quarter handily.
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2. Quinnipiac
Why they’ll win
Defense. Yes, the obvious answer is freshman guard Gal Raviv. The MAAC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year at times can single-handedly carry Quinnipiac to wins. So, let’s look at the other side of the ball.
In MAAC play, the Bobcats held their opponents to under 70 points in 18 of their 20 MAAC games. The only two times were a 77-74 win over Siena and their 72-63 loss to Fairfield.
Quinnipiac has the second-best scoring defense in the conference, which can be attributed to senior guard Jackie Grisdale, Raviv, sophomore guard Karson Martin and sophomore forward Anna Foley.
Defense wins championships, and for the Bobcats, that axiom rings true.
Why they won’t
A lack of secondary help. Quinnipiac has the best player in the conference in Raviv. The superstar guard averaged 18 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game and 4.3 assists per game.
“Anything is possible for us with the ball in her hands,” head coach Tricia Fabbri told reporters.
The worry isn’t about Raviv, it’s about what everyone else will do. When the Bobcats have secondary help, they win. Against Fairfield on Saturday, four players reached double digits in scoring.
But that isn’t always present. If the Bobcats don’t have that, they won’t win it all.
3. Siena
Why they’ll win
Guard depth. Everyone on Siena’s 2024-25 roster is listed as a guard, but the Saints have players like freshman Myriam Traore and senior Anajah Brown who play more like wings/forwards.
However, Siena arguably has the best guard duo in the MAAC in graduate Ahniysha Jackson and junior Teresa Seppala. Seppala was selected to the All-MAAC First Team and Jackson earned second team honors. They lead the team in scoring.
Behind them are freshmen Aniya Hooker, Zyriah Price and sophomore KB Hadley. They can come off the bench and provide much-needed minutes while Jackson and Seppala rest.
Why they won’t
Inconsistency between quarters.
In the Saints past three games, they’ve had one quarter where they scored significantly more than the other three. Against Mount St. Mary’s on March 1, they scored 23 in the second and 11, 10, and eight in the first, third and fourth. At Fairfield, it was 18 in the second and against Manhattan it was 18 in the third.
A one-quarter effort won’t consistently win you games. If Siena does this in Atlantic City, it won’t go far in the tournament.
4. Mount St. Mary’s
Why they’ll win
3-point shooting. Mount St. Mary’s have shooters on their roster. It has senior guard Jo Raflo, graduate guard Anna LeMaster and freshman guard Gabrielle Kennerly all in the top-10 of 3-point field goal percentage in the conference.
Those same three have propelled the Mountaineers to the best 3-point percentage in the conference too, over Fairfield and Quinnipiac. They live and die by the three, and when it’s on, Mount wins games and could win the entire tournament.
Why they won’t
Because the Mount is the most hot-and-cold team in the conference. It has had a seven-game win streak in conference play while beating Quinnipiac and Siena in the process. But now, the Mountaineers finished 2-4 to end the season, however they beat their first-round opponent in Marist on the final day of the regular season.
For head coach Antoine White, it all depends on which one of his teams shows up to Atlantic City. If it’s that team that’s won seven in a row, he has pretty good odds to go far. If not, they may have a bus ride back down to Maryland in their near future.
5. Marist
Why they’ll win
Teams won’t stop Morgan Lee. The junior 6’5 center is one of the most dominant bigs in the MAAC. She can score (12.8 points per game), rebound (7.7), pass (2.3 assists per game) and defend the post. On defense, she leads the conference in blocks per game with 2.4 and has nabbed the third-most defensive rebounds in the MAAC.
“I’ve never played with a big like that in my life,” freshman guard Danielle Williamsen told reporters.
She is at the center of Marist’s offense and she can impact the game in all of the above facets. Teams will have no answers to defending her and Marist will win its 12th MAAC Tournament title.
Why they won’t
Shots don’t fall. Marist attempted the fourth-most three pointers in the MAAC this past season. Its average was just over 30% on those shots. When the Red Foxes shoot above their average, they go 10-4. It’ll be up to redshirt junior guard Lexie Tarul and Williamsen to provide the boost from beyond the arc to Marist. If they don’t, it’ll be tough for the Red Foxes to win.
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6. Merrimack
Why they’ll win
If Atlantic City becomes North Andover, Massachusetts south, Merrimack can win it all. The Warriors had a home record of 10-3 and beat No. 5-seed Marist, Manhattan and lost by only five to Quinnipiac at home.
With Merrimack’s first game in the tournament taking place on Thursday, the Warriors have some time to get adjusted to Atlantic City and the atmosphere of Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. If they can find their home form, Merrimack has a shot to win it all.
Why they won’t
A lack of offensive help. Sophomore guard Thalia Sheppard leads Merrimack in scoring with 13 points per game. No other player on the Warriors has double-digit points per game. Sheppard hasn’t scored fewer than 10 points in a game since Jan. 11.
If Merrimack can’t get production from sophomore forward Madison Roman, redshirt junior guard Rose Caso, junior guard Lydia Melaschenko and sophomore guard Paloma Garcia, they’ll have a quick stay in Atlantic City on their hands.
7. Saint Peter’s
Why they’ll win
Fatmata Janneh. The sophomore forward from London was an All-MAAC First Team selection, averaged 18.3 points per game, 11.3 boards and had 18 double-doubles on the year. She can take over games and score at all three levels.
Janneh will more than likely lead the Peacocks in scoring and will prove to be a headache for whoever has to defend her. Her talent will be too much for whatever teams Saint Peter’s face and they’ll hoist the MAAC trophy for the first time since 2002.
Why they won’t
The rest of their offense. Janneh is dominant, but she doesn’t have a lot of other help. Freshman forward De’Naya Rippey had 22 points on March 8 against Canisius, graduate guard Laila Grant has had nine double-digit performances, but neither of them have consistently put up those numbers.
Janneh will perform, but if she doesn’t get the help she needs to beat the best-of-the-best in the MAAC, Saint Peter’s will go back to North Jersey with nothing to show for their efforts.
8. Manhattan
Why they’ll win
Rebounding. Manhattan’s bread and butter is winning the interior battle. The Jaspers lead the conference in rebounds per game with 37.1 and blocked shots.
Senior forward Petra Juric, graduate forward Leyla Oztürk and sophomore forward Kristina Juric are the reasons for this advantage. Petra Juric is sixth in the conference with 6.3 rebounds per game. Oztürk is coming off a career high 23-point performance against Siena on March 8.
Combined with Manhattan’s guards, if it can win the battle on the boards, the Jaspers can go on another Cinderella run in the MAAC Tournament a la 2023.
Why they won’t
But that Cinderella run greatly depends on how the Jaspers guards play. Seniors Nitzan Amar and Ines Gimenez Monserrat along with juniors Hana Mühl and Brianna Davis fuel Manhattan’s backcourt and the former two have experience playing in Atlantic City before.
However, if they do not back up the bigs on the glass, the Jaspers are doomed to a short run and will be knocked out for the second-straight year by the Canisius Golden Griffins.
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9. Canisius
Why they’ll win
Because Canisius has nothing to lose. The Golden Griffins have been united through it all this year. It was selected last in the preseason coaches poll, and battled its way to a MAAC Tournament spot, beating Rider on March 6.
If Canisius loses, it was expected to and made the most out of a year it was doubted by everyone. But if it wins, it adds to the positive momentum that head coach Tiffany Swoffard is generating in her first year in charge.
“Who would’ve thought that we would be talking about potentially going to Atlantic City?” Swoffard told The Next.
No one expects anything of the Golden Griffins, which is exactly what they want you to think too.
Why they won’t
Inexperience. Only one person on Canisius’ roster has ever played in the MAAC Tournament — sophomore guard Mary Copple. No one else has ever played postseason MAAC basketball.
The Golden Griffins starting lineup is completely new to the MAAC Tournament. Their experience pales in comparison to the rest of the field, especially their first-round opponent in No. 8 Manhattan. If Canisius is to go home early, one of the reasons may be because the lights were too bright.
10. Iona
Why they’ll win
3-ball. Iona are among five teams in the MAAC that have shot more than 600 threes across their season. They have three players — senior guards Judith Gomez and Ella Fajardo and sophomore forward Zoey Ward — that have put up more than 100 threes on the season.
When the former three are shooting well, Iona’s hard to stop. They stretch the floor for whatever defense is facing them. For the Gaels to win the MAAC Tournament, they would have to shoot the daylights out of Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and become the ultimate underdog.
Why they won’t
Iona has zero momentum heading into March. The Gaels have lost six straight, including to Niagara and Sacred Heart, who both missed the cutline for the MAAC Tournament.
In the last four games, Iona hasn’t scored more than 57 points in a game. That’s not enough to beat the best teams in the conference, plain and simple.
March is all about momentum, and for Iona, it will have to build its momentum on the biggest stage of the year. Or else, it’s once promising MAAC season will be promptly over.
