Year 1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) saw the Merrimack College women’s basketball team reach the semifinals of the 2025 conference tournament. Head Coach Kelly Morrone says the question for year 2 is simple: what’s next?
“We established ourselves last year as a dangerous team that can make a little bit of noise even when we aren’t supposed to,” said Morrone, now entering her fifth season leading the Warriors. “This year is a carryover of that momentum.”
MAAC opponents learned quickly of Merrimack’s toughness and gritty play during the 2024-25 season, leading the Warriors to become one of the top rebounding teams in the conference.
“Our team’s two mantras are ‘play hard’ and ‘don’t back down from anyone,’ Morrone said. “We have a direction for this team and we have recruited to that direction and planned to that direction. We have a lot of the pieces in place to be successful.”
For the Warriors to build on last year’s success and exceed expectations of a No. 8 ranking in the 2025 MAAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Morrone says there are three people who cannot have an off day: herself, MAAC preseason second teamer Madison Roman and junior guard Paloma Garcia.
“We have to be very clear in our leadership positions,” said Morrone. “Paloma will lead the guards as our floor general and Madison is our security in the front court. They have to lead their positions from the front.”
Newcomers to this year’s team who Morrone expects to make an impact include graduate transfer student Oralye Kiefer, a 6’3” forward who most recently played at Northeastern University, and Se’Lah Reddick, a senior guard who started 46 games over two seasons at Flagler College and can make an impact across several statistical categories.
As the Warriors look to open the season on Tuesday, Nov. 4, against UMass Boston in Lawler Arena, Morrone said this year’s squad is the most prepared in her time at Merrimack College. She credits that readiness in part to the program’s men’s practice squad that has worked with the team since day 1 of the season.
“As a team, we are going to get out of the gates quicker at the start of the season,” said Morrone. “And credit to the men’s practice players. We are already seeing dividends in scrimmages after practicing with them and it’s leading to a higher level of play.”
