DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Mar. 6, 2025) – The No. 3 seeded Mercy University women's basketball team takes on No. 2 seeded College of Staten Island in an ECC Women's Basketball Championship Semifinal on Saturday, March 8th at 2:30 p.m. at Daemen University. The winner of Saturday's game will face the winner of No. 1 Daemen/No. 5 Molloy in the Final on Sunday, March 9th at 12 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Saturday, March 8th 2:30 p.m.
Records: #3 Mercy (18-9, 11-5 ECC), #2 Staten Island (20-8, 13-3 ECC)
Location: Amherst, N.Y. (Daemen University)
Date/Time: Sunday, March 9th 12 p.m.
Records: Winner of No. 2 Staten Island/No. 3 Mercy vs. Winner of No. 1 Daemen/No. 5 Molloy
Location: Amherst, N.Y.
Ticket Prices
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
All Games
$10 – Adults
$5 – Students with ID, Senior Citizens, Children
Children under 5 free for all games
*Tickets must be purchased at the link above. Cash will not be accepted so walkup tickets at the venue still must be purchased through the ECC website (QR code will be available at the gate).
*Due to the seating capacity of the tournament venues, it is recommended that tickets be purchased in advance. The ECC will not guarantee that tickets will be available at the door.
Last Meeting vs. Staten Island
Mercy dropped a 63-49 decision to Staten Island on February 12, 2025.
Last Meeting vs. Daemen
Mercy dropped a 56-40 decision to Daemen on February 9, 2025.
Last Meeting vs. Molloy
Mercy earned a 65-58 win over Molloy on February 22, 2025.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy is coming off a 73-49 win over #6 seed District of Columbia in a First Round matchup on Wednesday. The Mavericks were led by sophomore Grace Lesko who had a team-high 20 points and by junior Angelina Barrera and sophomore Amani Abuhatab who both had double-doubles. Mercy is making their fifth straight appearance in the tournament after finishing in third place in the ECC standings during the regular season. Mercy went 17-9 during the regular season and 11-5 in ECC play. The Mavericks ended the regular season with a winning record for the third straight season for the first time since the 1982-86 seasons. Mercy finished with 11 or more ECC wins in a season for the third straight season for the first time in program history. The Mavericks are hosting their second ECC Championship game and first since the 2022-23 season. Mercy has advanced to the semifinals for the second straight year and is looking to win their first ECC Championship. The Mavericks look to advance to the Final for the second straight year. The Mavericks dropped both meetings to Staten Island and Daemen this season and earned a split with Molloy during the regular season. Mercy is 4-4 all-time against Staten Island and have dropped the last three meetings. The Mavericks are 3-22 all-time against Daemen and defeated the Wildcats in Amherst last season. Mercy is 8-35 in their last 43 meetings against Molloy and have won five of the last six meetings. Mercy has been led by First Team All-ECC selection junior Angelina Barrera who is averaging 13.3 points per game with 6.6 rebounds per game on 48.8 percent shooting. Barrera also leads the team with 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. Third Team All-ECC selection senior Jaclyn Stanavich is averaging 13.7 points per game on 45.0 percent shooting with a team-high 1.8 steals per game to go along with 5.3 rebounds per game. Sophomore Molly Boek is averaging 5.4 points per game and 3.6 rebounds per game and Second Team All-ECC honoree sophomore Amani Abuhatab is netting 12.7 points per game on a team-best 50.0 percent shooting. ECC Rookie of the Year and Third Team All-ECC recipient sophomore Grace Lesko is fourth on the team averaging 11.5 points per game and leads the team with 6.6 rebounds per game. Mercy is ranked No. 37 nationally in scoring defense (57.0) and No. 23 in three-point percentage defense (26.0). Lesko was named ECC Player, Defensive Player and Rookie of the Week on Monday and Abuhatab was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Abuhatab and Lesko were named to the ECC Honor Roll last week. Barrera and Lesko were named to the ECC Honor Roll on February 10th. Barrera and Abuhatab were named to the ECC Honor Roll on February 3rd. Barrera and Lesko were named to the ECC Honor Roll on January 27th. Lesko was named ECC Rookie of the Week for the fourth time on January 20th and Barrera was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Barrera was also named MBWA Division II-III Player of the Week Honorable Mention on January 21st. Lesko was named MBWA Division II-III Player of the Week Honorable Mention on January 14th. Lesko was named ECC Rookie of the Week on January 6th and was tabbed MBWA Division II-III Player of the Week Honorable Mention on January 7th. Barrera was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week on January 6th and Stanavich was named to the Honor Roll. Stanavich was named to the ECC Honor Roll on December 23rd and Abuhatab and Stanavich were named to the ECC Honor Roll on December 16th. Lesko was named ECC Rookie of the Week on December 9th and Stanavich was tabbed to the Honor Roll. Barrera was named to the ECC Honor Roll on December 2nd and Abuhatab and Barrera were named to the ECC Honor Roll on November 25th. Stanavich and Barrera were named to the ECC Honor Roll on November 11th and Abuhatab and Stanavich were tabbed to the Honor Roll on November 18th.
Mercy entered the 2024-25 season picked first in the ECC Preseason Poll for the first time in program history after going 20-10 last season. The Mavericks recorded their most wins in a season and first NCAA Tournament berth since 1985. Mercy finished with their most ECC wins (12) in program history and advanced to the ECC Championship Final for the first time. Met Basketball Writers Association and ECC Coach of the Year Scott Lagas guided the Mavericks to their fourth straight ECC Championship appearance, oversaw Mercy's first 10-game winning streak since 1985 and led the Mavericks to program-best second place finish in the ECC standings. Mercy has recorded back-to-back seasons with double-digit ECC wins for the first time and the Mavericks have recorded double-digit wins in three straight seasons for the first time since 1987-93. Mercy looks to qualify for the ECC Championship for the fifth straight season and win their first-ever ECC Championship. The Mavericks look to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year and for the third time in program history.
Leading the returners for Lagas is ECC Preseason Player of the Year senior Jaclyn Stanavich who was tabbed First Team All-ECC and First Team All-Met last season after averaging 15.7 points per game on a team-best 41.4 percent shooting from the floor with 6.1 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. The senior ranked fifth in the ECC in points per game and was sixth in steals per game. Stanavich was also named to the ECC Championship All-Tournament Team and scored a team-high 18 points against Bentley in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament in 2024. Also, returning for the Mavericks is junior Angelina Barrera who was named ECC Defensive Player of the Year last season after starting all 30 games with 10.4 points per game and a team-high 8.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Barrera had 10 double-doubles and ranked fourth in the ECC in rebounds per game. Junior Kyla Nembach returns after posting 2.5 points and 1.4 assists per game and senior Kayla Halvorsen is back after ranking second on the team with 18 three-pointers last season. Junior Megan Marcotte and sophomore Amani Abuhatab return after averaging 2.3 and 2.1 points per game, respectively. Sophomores Paige Fourtin and Molly Boek also return and sophomores Grace Lesko, Layla Greene and Victoria Pfeffer return after sitting out last season due to injury. Lagas also welcomes a strong four-member recruiting class with freshmen Morgan Miller, Caitlin Leary, Sophia Hoyt and Gabrielle Martin joining the team ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Scouting the Dolphins
Staten Island is coming off a 70-52 win over Queens on March 1st. The Dolphins were picked fifth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 10-18 last season. Staten Island's second-place finish in the ECC standings is the highest in program history. The Dolphins reached the Semifinals in 2023 and are looking to make the Final for the first time. Staten Island is led by ECC Player of the Year and First Team All-ECC performer Jenalyse Alarcon who is averaging a team-high 14.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game on 49.5 percent shooting. Second Team All-ECC recipient Amber Abusbeih is second on the team with 11.1 points per game and leads the team with 3.8 assists per game. Dana Phelan is third with 10.0 points per game and Kyra Rose nets 9.6 points per game.
Scouting the Wildcats
Daemen is coming off an 80-51 win against Roberts Wesleyan on March 1st. The Wildcats were picked second in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 23-8 last season, advancing to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Daemen has earned a First Round bye for the sixth straight year and has earned the No. 1 seed for the fourth straight season. The Wildcats are the three-time defending ECC Champions and have won four of the last five ECC titles. Daemen is currently ranked No. 2 in the NCAA East Region Rankings. The Wildcats are led by Second Team All-ECC performer Danielle DiCintio who is averaging a team-high 12.4 points per game with a team-high 2.8 assists per game. First Team All-ECC recipient Claire Pikett averages 11.0 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game. Third Team All-ECC honoree Ne'Vaeh Buntley nets 9.9 points per game and Cecilia Lapertosa averages 9.5 points per game and a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game.
Scouting the Lions
Molloy is coming off a 72-59 win at No. 4 seed D'Youville on Wednesday in a First Round matchup. The Lions were picked sixth in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 10-17 last season. Molloy qualified for the ECC Championship for the first time since 2022 and the Lions have reached the Final five times, winning it all in 2008, 2010, and 2017. The Lions are led by Third Team All-ECC performer Samantha Muller who is averaging a team-high 12.4 points per game with 5.9 rebounds per game. Sophia Yearwood nets 10.0 points per game and Rosa Rizzitelli averages 9.0 points per game and a team-high 6.1 rebounds per game. Janel Moore and Colleen McCullagh both average 8.5 points per game.
