DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – The Mercy University Women's Basketball Team opens its 2025-26 season on Monday, November 3rd with an Exhibition at Division I Iona University at 11 a.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Monday, November 3rd 11 a.m.
Records (2024-25): Mercy (18-10), Iona (11-21)
Location: New Rochelle, N.Y. (Hynes Athletic Center)
Last Meeting vs. Iona
Mercy dropped a 71-31 decision to Iona on December 29, 1981.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy enters the 2025-26 season picked second in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 18-10 last season. The Mavericks advanced to the ECC Championship Semifinals for the second straight year for the first time in program history. Mercy has won 17 or more games for three straight seasons for the first time since 1982-86. The Mavericks have won double-digit ECC games for three straight years for the first time ever. Mercy is looking to win their first ECC Championship and qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons. Mercy looks to qualify for the ECC Championship for the sixth straight season.
Leading the 12 returners for Head Coach Scott Lagas is senior Angelina Barrera who was named First Team All-Met and First Team All-ECC last season. The 2024 ECC Defensive Player of the Year averaged 13.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Junior Grace Lesko returns after being named ECC Rookie of the Year, Third Team All-ECC and All-Met Honorable Mention last year. Lesko netted 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 2024-25. Junior Amani Abuhatab is back after being named Second Team All-ECC and All-Met Honorable Mention last year. Abuhatab recorded 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game a year ago. Senior Kyla Nembach also returns after sitting out last year due to injury. Nembach averaged 4.9 points and 1.4 assists per game during the 2023-24 season.
Also, returning is junior Molly Boek who averaged 5.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Sophomores Caitlin Leary and Morgan Miller also return after averaging 3.1 and 2.5 points per game, respectively. Senior Megan Marcotte returns in the frontcourt after netting 2.2 points and 2.3 rebounds per game last year and juniors Paige Fourtin and Layla Greene are back in Dobbs Ferry after averaging 1.9 and 1.1 points per game last year. Sophomores Sophia Hoyt and Gabrielle Martin return after combining to play in 35 minutes with six points and six rebounds.
Lagas also brings in six newcomers to the fold. Sophomore Haylee Ellwood joins the Mavericks from fellow ECC school Daemen University. Ellwood was named All-League twice at Sacred Heart Academy. Sophomore Ella Summers transfers in from Australia and freshman Saige Youngberg joins the Mavericks from Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. Freshman Allie Regan was an 1,000 point scorer at Framingham High School in Massachusetts and freshman Ella Wilson joins the Mavericks after scoring over 1,500 points at Lake Lehman High School. Rounding out the newcomers is freshman Emily Thornton who was a three-time Regional Champion and one-time State Runner-Up at Albany Academy.
Scouting the Gaels
Iona was picked sixth in the MAAC Preseason Poll after going 11-21 last season, falling in the MAAC Championship Quarterfinals. Graduate student Ella Fajardo was named Preseason All-MAAC Second Team after averaging 9.3 points and 2.6 assists per game. Fajardo led the Gaels in assists and ranked eighth in the MAAC with a 35.1% three-point field goal percentage. Iona returns 10 letterwinners from a year ago under third year head coach Angelika Szumilo. Junior Zoey Ward returns after averaging 8.7 points per game last year with a team-high 5.6 rebounds per game. Five newcomers joined the program for the 2025-26 season with transfer graduate students Isabellah Middleton and Naomi Barnwell along with junior Claudia Fiel to go with two freshmen in Johanna Flores and Wilma Tuomi.
Next Game
Mercy opens their regular season on Saturday, November 15th when they play Bentley at Southern Connecticut State at 6:30 p.m.
