DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 14, 2024) – The Mercy University women's basketball team hosts Pace University in their home opener on Sunday, November 17th at 12 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Sunday, November 17th 12 p.m.
Records: Mercy (1-1), Pace (0-3)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Pace
Mercy dropped a 78-56 decision to Pace on November 9, 2019.
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.
Mercy is coming off a 77-62 loss at Southern Connecticut State on Sunday. The Mavericks were led by senior Jaclyn Stanavich who had a team-high 18 points. Mercy has been led by Stanavich who is averaging a team-high 19.5 points per game on 56.7 percent shooting with a team-high 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. Junior Angelina Barrera is averaging 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game with a team-high 3.0 assists per game. Sophomore Molly Boek is averaging 11.0 points per game and sophomore Amani Abuhatab is netting 9.0 points per game. Mercy is currently ranked fifth in the D2CSC East Region Top 10 Poll. The Mavericks look to beat Pace for the first time since 1986 and look to win their home opener for the fourth straight season.
Scouting the Setters
Pace is coming off a 67-57 loss to No. 6 Bentley on Wednesday. The Setters were picked third in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 18-12 last season, falling in the NE10 Championship. Pace is receiving votes in the latest D2CSC East Region Top 10 Poll. The Setters are led by Shanice Sinclair who averages a team-high 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game on 55.6 percent shooting. Arianna Stockinger is second with 11.3 points per game and Ciara Collins is third with 11.0 points per game. Katumina Mansaray averages 9.7 points per game and Collins averages a team-high 2.0 steals per game.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Dominican on Wednesday, November 20th at 5 p.m.
