DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Nov. 8, 2024) – The Mercy University women's basketball team opens its 2024-25 regular season on Saturday, November 9th when they face Saint Anselm College at 3:30 p.m. at Southern Connecticut State University. Mercy concludes the weekend playing at Southern Connecticut State at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 10th.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, November 9th 3:30 p.m.
Records (2023-24): Mercy (20-10), Saint Anselm (10-19)
Location: New Haven, Conn. (Southern Connecticut State)
Date/Time: Sunday, November 10th 3:30 p.m.
Records (2023-24): Mercy (20-10), Southern Connecticut State (19-13)
Location: New Haven, Conn.
Last Meeting vs. Saint Anselm
Mercy earned a 62-58 win over the Hawks on November 11, 2023.
Last Meeting vs. Southern Connecticut State
Mercy earned a 53-43 win over the Owls on November 12, 2023.
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 64-32 loss to Division I Providence in an Exhibition on Monday. The Mavericks were led by Nembach who had a team-high eight points. Boek had seven points and Abuhatab had six points and five rebounds. Barrera and Lesko both had four points and Stanavich had two points. Marcotte recorded one point, seven rebounds, three blocks and four steals. Mercy is ranked fifth in the D2CSC Preseason East Region Top 10 Poll. The ranking is the highest in program history and marks the first time the Mavericks have been ranked in the Preseason Poll. Mercy is 1-6 in their last seven meetings against Saint Anselm and 1-1 in their last two meetings against the Owls. The Mavericks look to win their season opener for the third straight year.
Scouting the Hawks
Saint Anselm was picked seventh in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 10-19 last season, falling in the First Round of the NE10 Tournament. Leading the returners for the Hawks is Tatum Forbes who averaged a team-high 14.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season. Also returning is Melanie Hoyt who netted 13.1 points per game and Katie Lemanski is back after dishing out a team-high 3.6 assists per game a year ago.
Scouting the Owls
Southern Connecticut State was picked fourth in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 19-13 last season, falling in the NE10 Tournament Final. The Owls will host Georgian Court on Saturday before hosting Mercy on Sunday. Leading the returners for the Owls is Katie Williamson who returns after ranking second on the team last season with 10.8 points per game while leading the team with 7.0 rebounds per game. Delaney Haines is back after netting 7.2 points per game in 2023-24 and Rheyna Steinauer returns after posting 6.6 points per game a year ago.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Pace in their home opener on Sunday, November 17th at 12 p.m.
