WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 15, 2025) – Powered by a combined 42 points from sophomores Amani Abuhatab (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) and Grace Lesko (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area), the Mercy University women's basketball team earned a 65-59 win over ECC foe University of the District of Columbia on Saturday afternoon.

The Mavericks (14-9, 8-5 ECC) snap a two-game losing streak and sweep the season series with the Firebirds (8-14, 6-7 ECC) for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Mercy also wins at UDC for the first time since 2017.

Mercy was led by Abuhatab who had a game-high 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor overall and 4-of-4 shooting from downtown. Lesko recorded a double-double by way of 20 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Junior Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) added nine points, nine rebounds and a game-high six assists and freshman Morgan Miller (Branford, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy) had five points and three assists. Sophomore Layla Greene (Harriman, N.Y./The Storm King School) scored a career-high four points and senior Kayla Halvorsen (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Dobbs Ferry) netted three points and three assists. Junior Megan Marcotte (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) contributed two points.

UDC was led by Tori Williams who had a team-high 20 points.

Mercy jumped out to a 7-2 lead after an Abuhatab layup with 6:36 left in the first quarter. UDC followed with an 8-1 run to take a 10-8 lead before an Abuhatab three gave Mercy a 11-10 lead at the 2:49 mark. The Firebirds scored the final six points of the quarter to take a 16-11 lead after one quarter.

UDC held a 20-16 lead with 8:30 left in the second quarter before Mercy closed the quarter on a 15-2 run, capped off by an Abuhatab free throw, to take a 31-22 lead at halftime.

The hosts began the third quarter on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 31-31 with 7:12 left in the quarter. An Abuhatab three on the next Mercy possession gave the Mavericks a 34-31 lead. The Mavericks later held a 43-40 lead after a Miller layup before the Firebirds scored the final four points of the quarter to take a 44-43 lead after three quarters.

The Firebirds opened the fourth quarter on a 6-2 run to take a 50-45 lead with 7:54 left. Mercy stormed back on a 7-0 run, finished off by an Abuhatab three, to take a 52-50 lead with 5:04 remaining. Following a UDC timeout, the Firebirds battled back and evened the score at 56-56 with 2:38 on the clock before a Barrera jumper gave Mercy a 58-56 lead with 2:21 left. Two Abuhatab free throws later gave the Mavericks a 60-57 lead at the 1:48 mark and a Barrera layup with 1:18 left put the Mavericks up five, 62-57. A Williams jumper for UDC made it 62-59 with 47 seconds left. Following a Mercy timeout, Abuhatab finished the game off with a three-pointer with just 16 seconds left to give the Mavericks a 65-59 lead they would not relinquish.

Mercy shot 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the floor, 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from downtown and 61.1 percent (11-of-18) from the foul line. UDC shot 35.1 percent (26-of-74) from the field, 11.8 percent (2-of-17) from beyond the arc and 62.5 percent (5-of-8) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 44-41 edge on the glass.

Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, February 19th when they play at Queens at 7:30 p.m.