DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (July 28, 2025) – For the 10th year, Mercy University Athletics will recap the year by counting down the Top-10 most memorable moments of the 2024-25 season, with all 10 sports represented.
Mercy University Athletics will release a Top-10 moment, as chosen by the athletics staff, with a recap every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next three weeks culminating with the top moment from the 2024-25 athletic year being unveiled on Friday, August 1st.
No. 3 – Women's Basketball Advances to ECC Championship Semifinals and Wins 18 Games
Coming in at No. 3 in our 2024-25 Top-10 Moments is women's basketball who advanced to the ECC Championship Semifinals and won 18 games.
Mercy was picked first in the ECC Preseason Poll for the first time in program history after going 20-10 in 2023-24. Senior Jaclyn Stanavich was named ECC Preseason Player of the Year.
The Mavericks opened their 2024-25 season with an Exhibition at Division I Providence on November 4th. Seven different Mavericks scored as Mercy held their own before falling 64-32 to the Friars.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks were ranked a program-best 5th in the D2CSC Preseason East Region Top 10 Poll released on November 5th. Mercy opened their regular season with a thrilling 67-65 win over Saint Anselm on November 9th. Sophomore Amani Abuhatab hit the game-winning basket at the buzzer as Mercy won their season opener for the third straight year. Stanavich had a game-high 21 points and sophomore Molly Boek had a career-high 16 points. The next day, the Mavericks dropped a 77-62 decision at Southern Connecticut State. Stanavich had a team-high 18 points in the loss.
After the season-opening weekend, Stanavich and junior Angelina Barrera were named to the ECC Honor Roll. The Mavericks were also ranked No. 5 in the D2CSC East Region Poll.
Mercy hosted Pace in their home opener on November 17th and dropped a hard-fought 63-58 decision to the Setters. Abuhatab, Stanavich, and Barrera all scored in double figures. Following the game, Abuhatab and Stanavich were named to the ECC Honor Roll.
The Mavericks were ranked No. 7 in the D2CSC East Region Poll ahead of their matchup with Dominican on November 20th. Barrera, Abuhatab, Boek and Stanavich scored in double figures, but Mercy dropped a 69-67 decision to the Chargers to fall to 1-3 on the year.
Lagas and the Mavericks capped off the week with a 74-63 win at Caldwell on November 23rd. Abuhatab had a game-high 23 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor and 9-of-9 shooting from the foul line. Barrera added 16 points, and nine rebounds and senior Kayla Halvorsen had 10 points. After the win, Abuhatab and Barrera were named to the ECC Honor Roll, and the Mavericks were ranked 10th in the D2CSC East Region Poll.
Mercy made it two wins in a row when they earned a 75-55 win at Bridgeport on November 26th. Abuhatab had a game-high 20 points, Barrera added 15 points and Halvorsen had 12 points as Mercy moved to 3-3 on the year. The 20-point victory over Bridgeport was the largest margin of victory over the Purple Knights in 53 all-time meetings. The Mavericks ended the week with a 63-60 loss to No. 20 Assumption on December 1st. Barrera had a game-high 21 points and Stanavich added 16 points.
Barrera was named to the ECC Honor Roll on December 2nd, and the team was receiving votes in the D2CSC East Region Poll. The Mavericks got back into the win column on December 6th when they earned a 67-45 win over Roberts Wesleyan in their ECC opener. Stanavich and Halvorsen had a game-high-tying 14 points and sophomore Grace Lesko netted 12 points. The 22-point margin of victory was the largest in program history against Roberts Wesleyan. Mercy won their ECC opener for the first time since 2021.
After the week was over, Lesko was named ECC Rookie of the Week for the first time and Stanavich was tabbed to the Honor Roll. The Mavericks were back in action on December 10th, earning a 68-50 win over Goldey-Beacom. Mercy was led by Stanavich who had a game-high 16 points and by Abuhatab who had 15 points. The Mavericks moved back over .500 at 5-4 on the year.
The Mavericks extended their winning streak to three games when they earned a 64-50 win at D'Youville on December 13th. Abuhatab had a game-high 20 points and Stanavich had a double-double as Mercy moved to 6-4 overall and 2-0 in ECC play. The Mavericks held the Saints scoreless in the first quarter, marking the first time in program history that Mercy held an opponent scoreless in a quarter. The 13 points Mercy allowed in the first half was the fewest allowed in the first half since they allowed 13 points against Molloy on February 4, 2017. The Mavericks saw their winning streak come to an end on December 15th when they dropped a 58-44 decision to eventual ECC Champion Daemen. After the week, Abuhatab and Stanavich were named to the ECC Honor Roll.
Lagas and the Mavericks ended the 2024 portion of their schedule with a 71-60 win at Post on December 21st. Stanavich had a game-high and season-high 23 points and Barrera added 17 points as Mercy moved to 7-5. After the win, Stanavich was named to the ECC Honor Roll.
Mercy was back in action on January 2nd when they earned a 68-62 non-conference win over East Stroudsburg. Lesko had a then career-high 22 points on 13-of-14 shooting from the foul line. After the win, Barrera was named ECC Defensive Player of the Week, Lesko was tabbed Rookie of the Week for the second time and Stanavich was named to the Honor Roll. Mercy was also back receiving votes in the D2CSC East Region Poll.
The Mavericks dropped a narrow 60-58 decision to Staten Island on January 8th, falling to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in ECC play. Stanavich had 15 points and Lesko had her first collegiate double-double by way of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Mercy ended the week with an 80-66 win over District of Columbia on January 11th, helped by a combined 51 points from Lesko and Barrera. Lesko had a career-high 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting with 13 rebounds and Barrera added 21 points. Freshman Caitlin Leary chipped in eight points in her first collegiate start. After the win, Lesko was named ECC Rookie of the Week for the third time and Barrera was tabbed to the Honor Roll.
Lagas and the Mavericks won their second game in a row on January 15th with a 57-51 win over Queens. Barrera had a game-high 18 points and Lesko had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Mercy moved to 10-6 overall and 4-2 in ECC play. The Mavericks had now recorded double-digit wins in a season for the fourth straight season for the first time since 1987-93. Mercy ended the week with a 67-56 loss at Molloy on January 18th, despite Barrera and Lesko scoring in double figures. Lesko was named ECC Rookie of the Week for the fourth time on January 20th and Barrera was tabbed to the Honor Roll.
Mercy earned another win on January 25th with a 65-50 win over St. Thomas Aquinas. Barrera had a game-high 21 points, Lesko had a double-double, and Abuhatab had 13 points as the Mavericks moved to 11-7 overall and 5-3 in ECC play. Following the win, Barrera and Lesko were named to the ECC Honor Roll.
The Mavericks ended the month of January with a 48-29 win at Roberts Wesleyan on January 31st. Barrera and Abuhatab scored in double figures in the win. Mercy swept the season series with the Redhawks for the third straight season. The 29 points allowed by the Mavericks were the fewest allowed in an ECC game in program history. The 29 points allowed was also the fewest allowed by Mercy since giving up 14 points to Southampton on January 11, 1988. After the win, Barrera and Abuhatab were named to the ECC Honor Roll, and the Mavericks were receiving votes in the D2CSC East Region Poll.
Lagas and the Mavericks continued their winning ways with a 55-38 win over D'Youville on February 7th. Barrera had a game-high 17 points, Lesko had 16 points, and Abuhatab had 13 points as Mercy moved to 13-7 overall and 7-3 in ECC play. Mercy saw their winning streak come to an end on February 9th when they dropped a 56-40 decision to Daemen. Barrera recorded her 500th career rebound in the game. Barrera and Lesko were named to the ECC Honor Roll on February 10th.
The Mavericks dropped their second game in a row on February 12th when they fell 63-49 to regionally-ranked Staten Island. Lesko and Abuhatab scored in double figures as Mercy dropped to 13-9 overall and 7-5 in ECC play. Mercy capped off the week with a 65-59 win at the District of Columbia on February 15th. Abuhatab had a game-high 22 points and Lesko had 20 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Mercy swept the season series with the Firebirds for the first time since 2016-17 and won at UDC for the first time since 2017.
After the win, Abuhatab and Lesko were named to the ECC Honor Roll, and the Mavericks were receiving votes in the D2CSC East Region Poll. Mercy resumed play on February 19th with an impressive 77-47 win at Queens. Nine different Mavericks scored, led by Grace Lesko who had a team-high 17 points. Abuhatab had 13 points, sophomore Layla Greene had a career-high 10 points and freshman Morgan Miller had nine points. Mercy secured their fifth straight ECC Championship berth and first round home game.
Mercy ended the week with a 65-58 Senior Day win over Molloy on February 22nd to improve to 16-9 overall and 10-5 in ECC play. In a ceremony prior to the game, the Mavericks honored Stanavich and Halvorsen for their contributions to the program. Lesko had a game-high 29 points and Abuhatab had her first career double-double by way of 22 points and 11 rebounds. Mercy had now recorded double-digit ECC wins in three straight seasons for the first time in program history. After the week was over, Lesko was named ECC Player, Co-Defensive and Rookie of the Week and Abuhatab was tabbed to the Honor Roll.
The Mavericks ended the regular season with an 82-65 win at St. Thomas Aquinas on March 1st. Nine different Mavericks scored, highlighted by a team-high 20 points from Abuhatab. Miller added a career-high 10 points. Mercy ended the regular season 17-9 overall 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 1982-86. 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 earned the No. 3 seed in the following week's ECC Championship and would host No. 6 seed the District of Columbia in a First Round game on March 5th.
Barrera and Abuhatab had double-doubles and Lesko had a team-high 20 points as the Mavericks cruised to a 73-49 win over UDC in the First Round of the ECC Championship on March 5th at the Judge Athletic Center. Mercy improved to 18-9 and extended their winning streak to five games. The Mavericks advanced to the Semifinals for the second straight year and would face No. 2 seed Staten Island at Daemen on March 8th.
Prior to the Semifinals, the ECC All-Conference Teams came out and Lesko was named ECC Rookie of the Year and Third Team All-ECC. Barrera was tabbed First Team All-ECC, Abuhatab was named Second Team All-ECC and Stanavich earned Third Team honors.
Despite a team-high 21 points from Barrera, the Mavericks dropped a close 60-58 overtime decision to Staten Island in the ECC Championship Semifinals on March 8th, ending their season at 18-10. Barrera was named to the All-Tournament Team. Mercy advanced to the Semifinals in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history and the Mavericks ended 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.
The awards continued to trickle in as Barrera was named First Team All-Met and Stanavich, Lesko, and Abuhatab were named All-Met Honorable Mention. Barrera averaged 13.5 points per game with 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. Stanavich averaged a team-high 13.7 points per game with 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Lesko produced 11.2 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game and Abuhatab netted 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
The team also excelled in the classroom with Lesko, Abuhatab and Boek being named College Sports Communicators Academic All-District. The Mavericks also posted a 3.63 GPA throughout the 2024-25 academic year.
Schedule for the Top-10 Moments of the 2024-25 Season
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the next four weeks, the Mercy University Athletic Department will release the Top-10 moments one at a time beginning with the No. 10 moment on Friday, July 11th. The No. 1 moment will be unveiled on Friday, August 1st.
No. 1 – August 1st
No. 2 – July 30th
No. 3 – July 28th
No. 4 – Baseball Sets School Record for Wins and Qualifies for ECC Championship
No. 5 – Women's Lacrosse Advances to ECC Championship Final
No. 6 – Men's Soccer Advances to ECC Championship Semifinal and is Nationally-Ranked Throughout Season
No. 7 – Softball Records Most Wins Since 2019 and Wins First ECC Championship Game Since 2021
No. 8 - Women's Soccer Qualifies for ECC Championship for 11th Straight Season and Advances to Semifinals
No. 9 – Men's Basketball Records Most Wins Since 2019 and Nearly Qualifies for ECC Championship
No. 10 – Field Hockey Gets Off to Best Start in Program History and Nearly Qualifies for NE10 Championship
