CALDWELL, N.J. (Nov. 23, 2024) – Powered by five Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy University women's basketball team earned a 74-63 win at Caldwell University on Saturday afternoon at the Newman Center.
The Mavericks (2-3) snap a three-game losing streak and defeat the Cougars (2-3) for the second straight time.
Mercy was led by sophomore Amani Abuhatab (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) who had a game-high and career-high 23 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor and 9-of-9 shooting from the foul line. Junior Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) recorded 16 points and a game-high nine rebounds and senior Jaclyn Stanavich (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) netted 11 points and five rebounds. Senior Kayla Halvorsen (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Dobbs Ferry) contributed a season-high 10 points with four assists and sophomore Molly Boek (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) scored 10 points with seven rebounds. Sophomore Grace Lesko (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) chipped in four points.
Caldwell was led by Jah'Nel Lewis who had a team-high 22 points.
Caldwell held an early 5-3 lead at the 9:02 mark of the first quarter before Mercy went on an 11-2 run to take a 14-7 lead after a Boek layup with 3:53 left in the quarter. The Cougars later cut the Mavericks' lead to three, 14-11, before Mercy went on a 6-2 spurt to take a 20-13 lead after a Stanavich three with 28 seconds on the clock. A late Caldwell basket cut Mercy's lead to 20-15 after the first quarter.
The hosts opened the second quarter with three straight points to make it 20-18. Mercy quickly came back with an 8-1 run to increase their lead to nine, 28-19, after a Stanavich layup with 5:49 left in the half. Caldwell ended the half on a 7-3 run to cut the Mavericks' lead to five, 31-26, at halftime.
The Cougars scored the first four points of the third quarter to cut Mercy's lead to one, 31-30, with 7:51 left in the quarter. The Mavericks scored the next seven points to take a 38-30 lead following two Abuhatab free throws with 6:32 on the clock. Caldwell later got within four, 40-36, before Mercy ended the quarter on a 10-2 run to take a 50-38 lead at the end of the third quarter following a Barrera jumper.
Caldwell began the fourth quarter on a 17-9 run to cut Mercy's lead to four, 59-55, with 4:11 remaining. An Abuhatab jumper and Halvorsen three increased the Mercy lead back to nine, 64-55, with 2:10 left. The Cougars later made it 68-61, but the Mavericks concluded the game on a 6-2 spurt to earn the 74-63 road win.
Mercy shot 48.9 percent (23-of-47) from the floor, 31.3 percent (5-of-16) from beyond the arc and 88.5 percent (23-of-26) from the foul line. Caldwell shot 39.3 percent (24-of-61) from the field, 9.1 percent (1-of-11) from beyond the arc and 66.7 percent (14-of-21) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 38-28 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday when they play at Bridgeport at 5 p.m.
