DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – The Mercy University Women's Basketball Team opens its 2025-26 regular season on Saturday, November 15th when they face #10 Bentley University at Southern Connecticut State University at 6:30 p.m. Mercy ends the weekend playing at Southern Connecticut State on Sunday, November 16th at 3:30 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, November 15th 6:30 p.m.
Records (2024-25): Mercy (18-10), #10 Bentley (33-2)
Location: New Haven, Conn. (Southern Connecticut State University)
Date/Time: Sunday, November 16th 3:30 p.m.
Records (2024-25): Mercy (18-10), Southern Connecticut State (19-11)
Location: New Haven, Conn.
Last Meeting vs. Bentley
Mercy dropped a 63-50 decision at Bentley in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on March 15, 2024.
Last Meeting vs. Southern Connecticut State
Mercy dropped a 77-62 decision at Southern Connecticut State on November 10, 2024.
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.
Mercy opened their 2025-26 season with a 65-50 loss in an Exhibition at Division I Iona University on November 3rd. The Mavericks were led by Lesko who had a team-high 15 points and by Marcotte who had 11 points. Mercy is 0-5 all-time against Bentley and looks to beat Southern Connecticut State for the first time since 2023.
Scouting the Falcons
Bentley was picked first in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 33-2 last season, advancing to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The Falcons have won the last four NE10 Championships and are ranked No. 10 nationally in the WBCA Preseason Top 25 Poll. Leading the returners for Bentley is Niya Morgen who averaged 10.9 points per game last season. Cassidy Yeomans also returns after producing 7.7 points per game and a team-high 4.1 assists per game. Ciara Norman returns after averaging 5.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 2024-25.
Scouting the Owls
Southern Connecticut State will host Georgian Court on Saturday before hosting Mercy on Sunday. The Owls were picked second in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 19-11 last season, falling in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. Leading the returners for the Owls is Hope Fox who averaged 11.0 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game last season. Rheyna Steinauer returns after averaging 8.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and Jillian Martin is back after averaging 6.8 points and a team-high 3.7 assists per game.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Adelphi on Wednesday, November 19th at 5 p.m.
