DOBBS FERRY, N.Y.  – The Mercy University Women's Basketball Team plays at College of Staten Island in their ECC opener on Wednesday, December 3rd at 5:30 p.m.

Who, When and Where

Date/Time: Wednesday, December 3rd 5:30 p.m.

Records: Mercy (2-3, 0-0 ECC), Staten Island (2-4, 0-0 ECC)

Location: Staten Island, N.Y.

Last Meeting vs. Staten Island

Mercy dropped a 60-58 decision to Staten Island on March 8, 2025.

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 is coming off a 68-56 loss at Assumption on Sunday. The Mavericks were led by juniors Grace Lesko and Amani Abuhatab who combined for 37 points. Mercy has been led by Lesko who is averaging a team-high 19.8 points per game with 6.6 rebounds per game on 43.0 percent shooting. Abuhatab is second on the team with 12.3 points per game with 4.8 rebounds per game. Senior Kyla Nembach is fourth on the team with 5.0 points per game and dishes out 2.4 assists per game. Senior Megan Marcotte is averaging 5.2 points per game and leads the team with 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.4 blocks per game. Lesko was named to the ECC Honor Roll on Monday. Lesko was named to the ECC Honor Roll last week. Lesko was named ECC Player of the Week on November 17th and Abuhatab was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Mercy looks to win their ECC opener for the second straight year. The Mavericks are 4-5 in their last nine meetings against Staten Island and have dropped the last four meetings.

Scouting the Dolphins

Staten Island is coming off a 78-52 loss to Southern Connecticut State on Saturday. The Dolphins were picked third in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 21-9 last season, falling in the ECC Championship Final. Staten Island has been led by Shonyae Edmonds who leads the team with 13.3 points per game. Racky Kane is second on the team with 12.2 points per game with a team-high 1.4 blocks per game and Arielle Barnes is third with 9.2 points per game. Kyra Rose averages 9.2 points per game and a team-high 7.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

Next Game

Mercy hosts District of Columbia on Saturday, December 6th at 12 p.m.