WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 9, 2023) – Despite three Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy University women's basketball team dropped an 82-68 decision to ECC foe University of the District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon at the Henderson Sports Complex.
The Mavericks (7-3, 1-2 ECC) have dropped two of their last three games, while the Firebirds (10-0, 4-0 ECC) remain undefeated on the year.
Mercy was led by graduate student Katie Wall (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) who had a team-high 22 points with eight rebounds, six assists and four steals. Junior Jaclyn Stanavich (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) recorded a double-double by way of 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Sophomore Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) netted 12 points and five rebounds and senior Maria Tedesco (Ocean Township, N.J./St. Rose) produced eight points, seven rebounds and four assists. Freshman Paige Fourtin (Ansonia, Conn./Greens Farms Academy) contributed a career-high five points off the bench.
UDC was led by Tori Williams who had a game-high 25 points.
Williams gave the Firebirds an early 2-0 lead before Mercy answered with an 11-4 run to take an 11-6 lead with 5:28 left in the first quarter after a Kyla Nembach (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) layup. UDC scored the next seven points to retake the lead at 13-11 at the 2:45 mark. Three straight baskets from Stanavich, Tedesco and Barrera put the Mavericks back in front 17-13 with 1:42 on the clock. A pair of Destiny Ryles free throws made it 17-15 before back-to-back layups from Tedesco and Stanavich gave Mercy a 21-15 lead after the first quarter.
A pair of Barrera free throws to open the second quarter gave the Mavericks their largest lead of the game, 23-15. Mercy later held an eight-point lead, 25-17, at the 8:13 mark before the Firebirds went on a 12-0 run to take a 29-25 lead with 1:40 left in the half. A Tedesco layup ended the run and made it 29-27 before a Williams three-point play gave UDC a 32-27 advantage. Two Stanavich free throws made it 32-29, but a late Kensley Benjamin three gave the Firebirds a 35-29 lead at halftime.
Mercy opened the second half on a 5-1 run to cut the deficit to two, 36-34, after a Barrera jumper with 8:41 left in the third quarter. The Firebirds stormed back on a 17-2 run to increase the lead to 17, 53-36, with 2:52 on the clock. UDC would head into the fourth quarter with a 60-45 lead.
The Firebirds began the fourth quarter on a 9-3 run to take their largest lead of the game, 69-48, with 7:08 left to play. Mercy battled back with a 14-2 run to cut the UDC lead to single digits, 71-62, after a pair of Wall free throws with 2:46 left. The Mavericks could not cut the deficit to closer than nine points and the Firebirds pulled away late to earn the 82-68 win.
Mercy shot 34.8 percent (24-of-69) from the floor, 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from downtown and 84.2 percent (16-of-19) from the foul line. UDC shot 46.4 percent (32-of-69) from the field, 37.5 percent (6-of-16) from beyond the arc and 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the charity stripe. UDC held a 44-40 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, December 15th when they play at Saint Leo at 5 p.m.
