STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (Jan. 24, 2024) – Despite five Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy University women's basketball team dropped a 73-71 decision at ECC foe College of Staten Island on Wednesday night at the Sports and Recreation Center.
The Mavericks (10-8, 3-4 ECC) have dropped two games in a row, while the Dolphins (6-11, 3-4 ECC) snap a nine-game losing streak with the win and earn a split of the season series.
Mercy was led by junior Jaclyn Stanavich (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) who had a game-high 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting with six rebounds. Sophomore Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) added 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds and graduate student Katie Wall (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) recorded 12 points. Sophomore Kyla Nembach (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) chipped in 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting with four assists and four steals and senior Maria Tedesco (Ocean Township, N.J./St. Rose) netted 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting.
Staten Island was led by Jenalyse Alarcon who had a team-high 17 points.
The Dolphins took an early 2-0 lead before Mercy scored the next nine points to take a 9-2 lead at the 5:06 mark of the first quarter after a Barrera layup. A Kaia Johnson jumper later cut the Mavericks lead to six, 12-6, before Mercy ended the quarter on a 7-1 run, capped off by a Tedesco layup, to take a 19-7 lead after the first quarter.
Mercy opened the second quarter on an 11-1 run to increase their lead to a game-high 22 points, 30-8, with 7:00 left in the first half after a Stanavich layup. The Mavericks later held a 32-11 lead at the 6:08 mark following a Nembach jumper. However, Staten Island went on a 16-2 run to cut the Mavericks lead to seven, 34-27, with 2:35 remaining in the half. A Wall three increased the Mercy lead back to 10, 37-27, before three Dana Phelan free throws made it 37-30. Back-to-back Barrera layups gave Mercy a 41-30 lead with 34 seconds on the clock. A late Elizabeth Lofaro free throw cut the Mavericks lead to 10, 41-31, at halftime.
Staten Island began the third quarter on a 13-4 run to get within one, 45-44, at the 5:14 mark. Two Barrera free throws gave Mercy a 47-44 lead, but the hosts rallied with an 11-5 run to take a 55-52 lead with 1:15 on the clock. A Wall three-point play tied the game at 55-55 with 17 seconds on the clock. A Kyra Rose free throw gave the Dolphins a 56-55 lead after three quarters.
A Rose layup to open the fourth quarter gave the hosts a 58-55 lead. Two Tedesco free throws and a Stanavich three gave Mercy the lead back at 60-58 with 9:02 remaining. Staten Island scored the next 10 points to take their largest lead of the game, 68-60, with 5:37 left. The Dolphins maintained a 71-65 lead with 3:52 on the clock before two free throws from both Wall and Barrera and a layup by Stanavich tied the game at 71-71 with 16 seconds left. Following a Dolphin timeout, Johnson connected on a layup to give the visitors a 73-71 lead with two seconds remaining. The Mavericks could not get a shot off before time ran out and Staten Island earned the 73-71 come-from-behind win.
Mercy shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60) from the floor, 35.7 percent (5-of-14) from downtown and 70.0 percent (14-of-20) from the foul line. Staten Island shot 50.0 percent (27-of-54) from the field, 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from beyond the arc and 63.6 percent (14-of-22) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 34-33 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, January 27th when they host District of Columbia at 12 p.m.
