DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Dec. 6, 2024) – Powered by three Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy University women's basketball team opened ECC play with a 67-45 win over Roberts Wesleyan University on Alumni Night on Friday night at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center.
The Mavericks (4-4, 1-0 ECC) have won three of their last four games and defeat the Redhawks (0-8, 0-1 ECC) for the fifth straight time. The 22-point margin of victory is the largest in program history against Roberts Wesleyan. Mercy wins their ECC opener for the first time since 2021.
Mercy was led by senior Jaclyn Stanavich (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) who had a game-high-tying 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting with four steals. Senior Kayla Halvorsen (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Dobbs Ferry) added a game-high-tying 14 points and sophomore Grace Lesko (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) had a career-high 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting with six rebounds and four steals. Junior Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) added seven points and sophomore Amani Abuhatab (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) had six points and four steals. Junior Megan Marcotte (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) recorded four points and sophomores Molly Boek (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) and Paige Fourtin (Ansonia, Conn./Greens Farms Academy) both had three points. Freshman Morgan Miller (Branford, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy) and sophomore Layla Greene (Harriman, N.Y./The Storm King School) contributed two points apiece.
Roberts Wesleyan was led by Grace Dow who had a team-high 11 points.
The Redhawks held a 6-2 lead at the 8:41 mark of the first quarter before Mercy scored six straight points to take an 8-6 lead after a Stanavich jumper. The Mavericks later held a 10-8 lead after another Stanavich layup before Roberts Wesleyan went on a 6-0 run to take a 14-10 lead with 3:38 left in the first quarter. The Redhawks held a 16-12 lead before Mercy ended the quarter on a 5-0 run, finished off by a Halvorsen three, to take a 17-16 lead after the first quarter.
Mercy began the second quarter on a 13-1 run to take a 30-17 lead after a Halvorsen three with 6:17 left in the first half. The Redhawks later made it 32-21 before Mercy scored the final four points of the half to take a 36-21 lead at halftime, following two Halvorsen free throws.
A Boek jumper at the 8:45 mark of the third quarter gave Mercy a 39-23 lead. The Redhawks went on a 7-2 run to make it 41-30 with 5:10 left in the quarter. The Mavericks closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to take a 49-32 lead after three quarters following an Abuhatab layup.
The Mavericks started the fourth quarter on a 12-6 run to take their largest lead of the game, 61-38, after a Stanavich jumper with 4:10 remaining. Roberts Wesleyan later cut the deficit to 17, 61-44, but Mercy ended the game on a 6-1 run, capped off by a Greene layup, to earn the 67-45 win.
Mercy shot 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the floor, 20.0 percent (3-of-15) from downtown and 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from the foul line. Roberts Wesleyan shot 33.3 percent (17-of-51) from the field, 23.5 percent (4-of-17) from beyond the arc and 70.0 percent (7-of-10) from the charity stripe.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Tuesday, December 10th when they host Goldey-Beacom at 5 p.m.
