DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – The Mercy University Women's Basketball Team hosts ECC foe University of the District of Columbia on Saturday, December 6th at 12 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, December 6th 12 p.m.
Records: Mercy (3-3, 1-0 ECC), District of Columbia (3-4, 1-0 ECC)
Location: Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Last Meeting vs. Dist. Columbia
Mercy earned a 73-49 win over UDC on March 5, 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 71-52 win at Staten Island on Wednesday. The Mavericks were led by juniors Grace Lesko and Amani Abuhatab who both had double-doubles. Mercy has been led by Lesko who is averaging a team-high 20.0 points per game with 7.5 rebounds per game on 45.3 percent shooting. Abuhatab is second on the team with 14.4 points per game with 5.8 rebounds per game. Senior Kyla Nembach is fourth on the team with 4.5 points per game and dishes out 2.0 assists per game. Senior Megan Marcotte is averaging 4.3 points per game and averages 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.0 blocks per game. Sophomore Sophia Hoyt is third on the team with 5.0 points 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 start 2-0 in ECC play for the second straight year. The Mavericks are 10-18 all-time against UDC but have won the last four meetings.
Scouting the Firebirds
UDC is coming off a 72-62 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in their ECC opener on Wednesday. The Firebirds were picked sixth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 10-17 last season, qualifying for the ECC Tournament. UDC has been led by Aiyana Ellis and Nhaikyia Smith who both average a team-high 11.0 points per game. Dashani Coleman is third with 10.9 points per game and Kristian Harris is fourth with 8.0 points per game. Ellis averages a team-high 8.9 rebounds per game and Harris averages a team-high 2.4 assists per game.
Next Game
Mercy hosts Daemen on Friday, December 12th at 5 p.m.
