DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 17, 2024) – Despite three Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy University women's basketball team dropped a 63-58 decision to Pace University in their home opener on Sunday afternoon at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.
The Mavericks (1-2) have dropped two games in a row, while the Setters (1-3) earn their first win of the season.
Mercy was led by sophomore Amani Abuhatab (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) who had a team-high and career-high 16 points 7-of-11 shooting. Senior Jaclyn Stanavich (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) added 15 points, six rebounds and a game-high six steals and junior Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) recorded 11 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Sophomore Molly Boek (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) contributed six points and a team-high seven rebounds and sophomores Paige Fourtin (Ansonia, Conn./Greens Farms Academy) and Grace Lesko (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) each scored five points.
Pace was led by Katumina Mansaray who had a game-high 20 points.
The score was tied at 2-2 before Mercy went on a 10-0 run to take a 12-2 lead following two Abuhatab free throws with 4:54 left in the opening quarter. An Arianna Stockinger three made it 12-5 before the Mavericks closed the quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 24-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, following a Stanavich free throw.
A Lesko layup to begin the second quarter gave Mercy a game-high 19-point lead, 26-7, with 9:18 left in the half. The Setters stormed back on a 17-6 run to cut the Mavericks lead to eight, 32-24, at the 1:56 mark. A Boek layup gave Mercy a 34-24 lead before a Stockinger free throw made it 34-25. Stanavich later gave the Mavericks a 36-25 lead after a jumper before a late Mari Lee layup made it 36-27 in favor of Mercy at halftime.
Pace started the second half on a 13-2 run to take a 40-38 lead with 5:06 left in the third quarter. Two Barrera free throws later tied the game at 42-42 before the Setters scored five straight points to take a 47-42 lead late in the quarter. Two Stanavich free throws cut the Pace lead to three, 47-44, after three quarters.
Mercy opened the fourth quarter on a 9-4 run to take a 53-51 lead with 7:19 left after a Stanavich layup. The Setters recorded the next eight points to retake the lead at 59-53 with 5:03 remaining. A Lesko free throw at the 2:07 mark made it 60-57 before a Barrera free throw with 21 seconds left got the Mavericks to within two, 60-58. After a Mercy foul, Shanice Sinclair went 2-of-2 from the line to give Pace a 62-58 lead. The Mavericks turned over the ball on their next possession and committed a foul, sending Mansaray to the line where she went 1-of-2 to make it 63-58 with eight seconds remaining. Mercy could not score again, and the Setters earned the 63-58 win.
Mercy shot 37.7 percent (20-of-53) from the floor, 25.0 percent (2-of-8) from downtown and 80.0 percent (16-of-20) from the foul line. Pace shot 46.7 percent (21-of-45) from the field, 33.3 percent (4-of-12) from beyond the arc and 60.7 percent (17-of-28) from the charity stripe. Pace held a 34-29 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, November 20th when they host Dominican at 5 p.m.
