BUFFALO, N.Y. (Feb. 17, 2023) – Despite a team-high 12 points from graduate student Taysha Bender (Glen Burnie, Md./Archbishop Spalding), the Mercy College women's basketball team dropped a 68-49 decision to ECC foe D'Youville University on Friday night at College Center Gym.
The Mavericks (15-8, 9-4 ECC) see their two-game winning streak come to an end and fall to 0-3 all-time at the Saints (10-12, 8-6 ECC).
Bender added five rebounds and three assists and senior Katie Wall (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) had eight points and a game-high six steals. Junior Maria Tedesco (Ocean Township, N.J./St. Rose) recorded seven points and a team-high nine rebounds and sophomore Jaclyn Stanavich (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) netted six points. Freshman Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) produced four points and sophomore Abrielle Racine (Mooers Forks, N.Y./Northeastern Clinton Senior) and freshman Nya Carroll (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park Jr/Sr) both had three points.
D'Youville was led by Brianne Moxley who had a game-high 14 points.
Mercy held an 11-9 lead after a Bender three with 4:05 left in the first quarter. The Saints stormed back on a 9-2 run to take an 18-13 lead with 32 seconds on the clock. A Wall three cut the deficit to two, but a Stella Mollica free throw gave the hosts a 19-16 lead after one quarter.
D'Youville opened the second quarter on a 12-0 run to take a 31-16 lead with 3:59 left in the half. Two free throws from Bender ended the run at the 2:34 mark and made it 31-18. A Tedesco free throw with 1:23 on the clock made it 33-21, but the Saints scored the final four points of the half to take a 37-21 lead at halftime.
The Mavericks scored the first four points of the second half to make it 37-25 with 7:35 left in the third quarter. D'Youville increased the lead back to 15, 44-29, before a Wall jumper made it 44-31 with 4:48 on the clock. The Saints went on a 6-0 run to increase their lead to 19, 50-31, with two minutes left in the quarter. A late Barrera layup cut the hosts lead to 17, 50-33, after three quarters.
A Wall three to open the fourth quarter trimmed the Saints lead to 14, 50-36, with 9:17 remaining. D'Youville rallied with a 15-5 run to take their largest lead of the game, 65-41, with 1:34 left. The Mavericks ended the game on an 8-3 run, but the deficit proved too much to overcome and the Saints came away with the win.
Mercy shot 30.5 percent (18-of-59) from the floor, 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from downtown and 60.0 percent (9-of-15) from the foul line. D'Youville shot 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the field, 75.0 percent (6-of-8) from beyond the arc and 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 36-35 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Sunday, February 19th when they play at Daemen at 12 p.m.
