Mercy Women's Basketball Picks Up First ECC Win, Defeating NYIT 74-69
Mercy College women's basketball picked up their first East Coast Conference win of the season on Saturday, defeating NYIT on the road by a score of 74-69. With the win, the Mavericks are 3-9, including 1-6 in the ECC, and NYIT drops to 3-8, including 1-5 in the ECC.
The Mavericks controlled the lead from the 18:06 mark of the first half, after a layup by junior
Simone Williams (Waldorf, Md./Lackey) gave Mercy the 4-2 advantage. The Mavericks would hold onto the lead for the rest of the game.
Strong shooting was key for Mercy in the first half. The Mavericks, shooting 54.2% from the floor in the first 20 minutes, had their largest lead of the half when senior
Ashley Borofsky (Southington, Conn./Southington) knocked down a three-pointer to bring the score to 29-15. NYIT pushed back to lessen the lead, and the first half ended with Mercy up 36-30.
NYIT struck first in the second half, with Alexandra Venuto hitting the three pointer to bring the Bears within three. The Mavericks answered back, going on a nine point run to make the score 45-33. Baskets were exchanged. A layup by junior
Jasmine Williams (Stratford, Conn./Green Farms Academy) gave the Mavericks the 55-41 lead. NYIT answered back with an 11 point run to come within three. Mercy was able to get the lead back to ten points when a layup by freshman
Venesha Hunter (Paterson, N.J./John F. Kennedy) gave the Mavericks the 71-61 lead, but NYIT make one final push. A series of missed shots and turnovers by the Mavericks allowed the Bears back in the game, and Mercy led by a mere two points with 0:31 seconds to play. A steal and made layup by Borofsky gave Mercy the four point lead with 0:12 seconds to go. A free throw shot by junior
Talia Beaulieu (Waldorf, Md./McDonough) with one second to go brought the final score to 74-69.
Jasmine Williams led all players with 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Borofsky and
Simone Williams each added 17 points.
Ann Butehorn (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) grabbed ten rebounds and had four blocks. The Bears were led by Cierra Baker, who had the lone double-double of the game, with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
The Mavericks are back in action this Wednesday, Jan. 12 when they travel to C.W. Post.
