Edison, NJ (May. 17, 2023) – Rider’s Luke Lesch and Niagara’s Maddie Hickingbottom have been named the Hercules Tires Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Student-Athletes of the Week.
 
Luke Lesch
Rider
Baseball
 
Luke Lesch has started all 47 games for the Broncs this season, sitting second on the team with six home runs and ranking in the top four on the team in average, runs, RBIs, and walks. In Rider's recent victory over sixth-ranked Duke, Lesch hit a game-tying home run in the top of the second inning, then an RBI-Double to drive in the winning run in the top of the ninth. Lesch has been at the top of his game on the diamond, while maintaining a 3.28 GPA in the classroom.
 
 
Maddie Hickingbottom
Niagara
Softball
 
Hickingbottom put together a solid season in the circle for Niagara, pitching 135.0 innings with a 3.27 ERA and 151 strikeouts. Hickingbottom made ten starts in league play, tossing four complete games, including one shutout. In 69.0 innings of work, she punched out 73 batters. Her 151 strikeouts on the season rank fourth all-time. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in business management and earned a spot on the MAAC All-Academic Team. 
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.
 
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