Coached by Cathi Wasilik, Mercy College the 1975-76 women’s basketball team brought acclaim to Dobbs Ferry. A powerhouse in the region, the Flyers had an undefeated, 21-0, record in the regular season, outscoring opponents by an average of 46.9 points per game. For the season, Mercy averages over 81 points per game.
Mercy had been strong for a few years, and this season would be no different. If nothing else, there were several new faces on the team, with seven freshmen gracing the eleven member roster.
Seven times during that streak Mercy scored more than 100 points. The closest test was in the season’s fourth contest, a 90-82 win over St. John’s University.
A particular two-game run in January was equally impressive. In its ninth game of the season, the Flyers beat Nyack 82-9, and then one week later beat Concordia 109-10, a margin of 99 points. The Citizen Register called it an “awesome display,” noting that the Flyers’ starters only played the first 10 minutes of the game.
By early February, the team had really hit its stride. Mercy scored over 100 points in three consecutive games, beating Barnard 101-35, St. Thomas Aquinas 103-47, and Baruch 101-35.
Up next was a second meeting with Concordia, with Mercy jumping out to a 30-0 lead to begin the game, cruising to an 84-29 win.
But the one team everyone looked forward to playing was Iona College. In ‘The Game,’ Mercy led 41-26 at the half, and convincingly trounced the Gaels 73-63.
Rightfully so, Mercy was the number one seed heading into the Eastern Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (EAIAW) Regional Small Basketball Tournament, held at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. At stake were automatic bids into the AIAW National Small College Tournament. Mercy would finish fourth in the prestigious tournament, beating Iona once again in the process.
But the season was not over, not by a long shot. Mercy went on to participate in the Division II New York State Tournament, held in upstate Oneonta. The Flyers finished second in New York State, dealing St. John Fisher College its only loss of the season.
In all, four different regulars averaged double digits in scoring for the regular season, led by the tandem of Helen Peros and current Mercy College Athletics Hall of Fame member Mary Brechbiel Agnetti. Together, the duo averaged 38 points per game. Peros had 411 points (19.6 per game), and Brechbiel Agnetti 385 (18.3). Kathy Lamberti contributed 254 points (12.1), with Maggie Ferrara adding 221 (11.1). Ferrara added a team-high 212 rebounds, 10.6 per game, including 139 on the offensive end. Donna Spafford added a consistent 8.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
1975-76 Mercy College Women’s Basketball Team
Number Name Class Position Height Hometown
30 Mary Brechbiel So. Forward 5’6” Haverstraw, N.Y.
42 Peggy Dougherty Fr. Guard 5’2” White Plains, N.Y.
34 Gina DiPinto Fr. Forward 5’7” Yonkers, N.Y.
40 Maggie Ferrara Fr. Center 6’0” Scarsdale, N.Y.
32 Chris Ivancich So. Forward 5’6” New City, N.Y.
20 Kathy Lamberti So. Guard 5’4” Crestwood, N.Y.
14 Helen Peros Fr. Guard 5’6” New York, N.Y.
24 Carolle Racine Jr. Forward 5’3” Tarrytown, N.Y.
44 Bette Schouenborg Fr. Guard 5’6” Massapequa Park, N.Y.
22 Donna Spafford Fr. Center 5’8” New Rochelle, N.Y.
10 Kathy Ryan Fr. Guard 5’1” Port Chester, N.Y.
Head Coach: Cathi Wasilik
Manager: Robert Anderson
Statistician: Fausto Ramos
