AMHERST, N.Y. (Mar. 8, 2025) – Despite a team-high 21 points from junior Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic), the No. 3 seeded Mercy University women's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 60-58 overtime decision to No. 2 seeded College of Staten Island in an East Coast Conference (ECC) Semifinal matchup on Saturday afternoon at Lumsden Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (18-10) see their five-game winning streak come to an end and fall to the Dolphins (21-9) for the third time this season. Mercy advanced to the semifinals in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history. The Mavericks end their season with 17 or more wins for the third straight season for the first time since 1982-1986. Mercy ended the season with double-digit ECC wins for the third straight year for the first time ever. Staten Island advances to tomorrow's final where they will face No. 1 seed Daemen at 12 p.m.
Mercy was led by Barrera who had a team-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting with seven rebounds, playing all 45 minutes. Sophomore Amani Abuhatab (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) added 12 points and a game-high-tying nine rebounds and freshman Morgan Miller (Branford, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy) scored eight points with six rebounds. Freshman Caitlin Leary (Carle Place, N.Y./Carle Place) recorded six points and sophomore Grace Lesko (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) contributed four points and five rebounds. Senior Kayla Halvorsen (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Dobbs Ferry) netted three points and junior Megan Marcotte (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) and sophomore Molly Boek (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) each had two points.
Staten Island was led by Jenalyse Alarcon who had a game-high 23 points.
Mercy jumped out to an 8-4 lead at the 5:59 mark of the first quarter after a Lesko layup. The Dolphins went on a 7-0 run to take an 11-8 lead with 4:54 on the clock. Staten Island later held a 15-12 lead before a Lesko jumper cut the Dolphins' lead to one, 15-14, after the first quarter.
Two Boek free throws to open the second quarter gave Mercy a 16-15 lead at the 8:55 mark. Staten Island answered with a 12-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 27-16, with 3:06 left in the half. An Abuhatab layup and Barrera layup cut the Dolphins' lead to seven, 27-20, at halftime.
Back-to-back baskets from Barrera and Abuhatab to open the third quarter made it 27-24. A Dana Phelan three at the 6:04 mark later gave the Dolphins a 32-26 lead. Mercy rallied with a 9-0 run to retake the lead at 35-32 following a Barrera jumper with 3:19 left in the quarter. A Barrera layup at the 2:36 mark later made it 37-34 before the Dolphins ended the quarter on a 7-1 run to take a 41-38 lead after three quarters.
Staten Island opened the fourth quarter on a 6-2 spurt to take a 47-40 lead with 8:33 left. Mercy stormed back on a 12-2 run to take a 52-49 lead following a Barrera layup with 1:44 remaining. Amber Abusbeih tied the game at 52-52 with 47 seconds left after a three-pointer. Neither team would score in the final 47 seconds of action, sending the game into overtime.
A Phelan three to open the overtime period gave Staten Island a 55-52 lead at the 3:20 mark. Two Leary free throws and a Barrera jumper gave the Mavericks a 56-55 lead with 1:28 left. Following empty possessions by both teams, Alarcon gave the Dolphins a 57-56 lead following a layup with 27 seconds left. Abuhatab was fouled on the next Mercy possession and went 2-of-2 from the line to give Mercy a 58-57 lead with 21 seconds remaining. Phelan drained a three on the next Staten Island trip down the floor to give the Dolphins a 60-58 lead with six seconds on the clock. Mercy turned the ball over on their next possession, giving Staten Island the 60-58 win.
Mercy shot 40.4 percent (19-of-47) from the floor, 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from downtown and 90.0 percent (18-of-20) from the charity stripe. Staten Island shot 31.1 percent (23-of-74) from the field, 22.2 percent (6-of-27) from beyond the arc and 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the foul line. Mercy held a 45-34 edge on the glass.
