STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (Feb. 12, 2025) – Despite a team-high 11 points from sophomores Amani Abuhatab (West Haven, N.Y./West Haven) and Grace Lesko (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area), the Mercy University women's basketball team dropped a 63-49 decision to regionally-ranked ECC foe College of Staten Island on Wednesday night at The Tank.
The Mavericks (13-9, 7-5 ECC) have dropped two games in a row and drop both meetings to the Dolphins (17-8, 10-2 ECC) this season.
Mercy was led by Abuhatab who had a team-high-tying 11 points with five rebounds and two steals. Lesko also had a team-high-tying 11 points with three assists and junior Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) added eight points and a team-high seven rebounds to go with three assists and two blocks. Freshman Morgan Miller (Branford, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy) recorded a career-high six points and junior Megan Marcotte (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) had five points. Freshman Caitlin Leary (Carle Place, N.Y./Carle Place) and sophomore Molly Boek (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) both contributed four points.
Staten Island was led by Kyra Rose who had a game-high 19 points and nine rebounds.
The Dolphins held an 8-5 lead at the 4:23 mark of the first quarter before Mercy went on an 8-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 13-8, after two Boek free throws with 2:25 left in the opening quarter. Staten Island scored the final four points of the quarter to cut Mercy's lead to one, 13-12, after one quarter.
Staten Island began the second quarter on an 8-2 run to take a 20-15 lead with 4:17 left in the half. A Lesko layup with 2:27 on the clock cut the Dolphins lead to three, 24-21. Staten Island recorded the final four points of the half to take a 28-21 lead at halftime.
A Miller layup to open the third quarter made it 28-23 before back-to-back Dolphin layups gave the hosts a 32-23 lead. A Leary layup and Abuhatab jumper made it 32-27 with 7:47 remaining in the quarter. Staten Island closed the quarter on a 15-7 run to take a 13-point lead, 47-34, after three quarters.
An Abuhatab layup with 4:56 left got the Mavericks to within eight, 53-45. However, the hosts scored the next five points to increase the lead back to 13, 58-45, with 3:01 remaining and pulled away for the 63-49 win.
Mercy shot 38.2 percent (21-of-55) from the floor, 14.3 percent (1-of-7) from downtown and 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from the foul line. Staten Island shot 44.4 percent (24-of-54) from the field, 21.4 percent (3-of-14) from beyond the arc and 63.2 percent (12-of-19) from the charity stripe. Staten Island held a 31-26 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, February 15th when they play at District of Columbia at 1 p.m.
