DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Oct. 31, 2024) – The Mercy University women's basketball team opens its 2024-25 season on Monday, November 4th with an Exhibition at Division I Providence College at 7 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Monday, November 4th 7 p.m.
Records (2023-24): Mercy (20-10), Providence (13-21)
Location: Providence, R.I. (Alumni Hall)
Last Meeting vs. Providence
Providence earned an 81-49 win over Mercy on December 1, 1978.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy enters the 2024-25 season picked first in the ECC Preseason Poll for the first time in program history after going 20-10 last season. The Mavericks recorded their most wins in a season and first NCAA Tournament berth since 1985. Mercy finished with their most ECC wins (12) in program history and advanced to the ECC Championship Final for the first time. Met Basketball Writers Association and ECC Coach of the Year Scott Lagas guided the Mavericks to their fourth straight ECC Championship appearance, oversaw Mercy's first 10-game winning streak since 1985 and led the Mavericks to program-best second place finish in the ECC standings. Mercy has recorded back-to-back seasons with double-digit ECC wins for the first time and the Mavericks have recorded double-digit wins in three straight seasons for the first time since 1987-93. Mercy looks to qualify for the ECC Championship for the fifth straight season and win their first-ever ECC Championship. The Mavericks look to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year and for the third time in program history.
Leading the returners for Lagas is ECC Preseason Player of the Year senior Jaclyn Stanavich who was tabbed First Team All-ECC and First Team All-Met last season after averaging 15.7 points per game on a team-best 41.4 percent shooting from the floor with 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. The senior ranked fifth in the ECC in points per game and was sixth in steals per game. Stanavich was also named to the ECC Championship All-Tournament Team and scored a team-high 18 points against Bentley in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament in 2024. Also, returning for the Mavericks is junior Angelina Barrera who was named ECC Defensive Player of the Year last season after starting all 30 games with 10.4 points per game and a team-high 8.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Barrera had 10 double-doubles and ranked fourth in the ECC in rebounds per game. Junior Kyla Nembach returns after posting 2.5 points and 1.4 assists per game and senior Kayla Halvorsen is back after ranking second on the team with 18 three-pointers last season. Junior Megan Marcotte and sophomore Amani Abuhatab return after averaging 2.3 and 2.1 points per game, respectively. Sophomores Paige Fourtin and Molly Boek also return and sophomores Grace Lesko, Layla Greene and Victoria Pfeffer return after sitting out last season due to injury. Lagas also welcomes a strong four-member recruiting class with freshmen Morgan Miller, Caitlin Leary, Sophia Hoyt and Gabrielle Martin joining the team ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Scouting the Friars
Providence was picked third in the Big East Preseason Poll after going 13-21 last season falling in Round 2 of the WNIT. The Friars were one of three Big East teams to have multiple honorees on the Preseason All-Big East Team. Olivia Olsen earned All-Big East Second-Team honors last season after averaging a team-best 13.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game and shot 52.6 percent from the floor. Grace Efosa was also named to the Preseason All-Big East Team after ranking second on the team with 12.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Efosa had 17 double-digit scoring games and recorded 20-or-more points three times. She became the first Friar since 1993 to earn a spot on the Big East All-Tournament Team. Providence looks to win their third straight season opener.
Next Game
Mercy opens their regular season on Saturday, November 9th against Saint Anselm at Southern Connecticut State at 3:30 p.m.
