DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by double-doubles from senior Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) and junior Grace Lesko (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) and a career-high 10 points from sophomore Haylee Ellwood (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Daemen University), the Mercy University Women's Basketball Team opened 2026 with a convincing 77-39 win over Bloomfield College on Monday night at the Judge Athletic Center.
The Mavericks (8-5) have won three games in a row and start 8-5 for the third straight year. Mercy defeats the Bears (8-5) for the third straight time.
Mercy held a 6-4 lead with 6:45 left in the first quarter before three straight baskets from sophomore Sophia Hoyt (Middle Village, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy), Barrera and Lesko gave the Mavericks a 12-4 lead at the 4:43 mark. The Bears rallied with a 9-0 run to take a 13-12 lead with 1:50 on the clock. Back-to-back baskets from Barrera and sophomore Morgan Miller (Branford, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy) gave Mercy a 16-13 lead before a late three by Kayla Lewis tied the score at 16-16 at the end of the first quarter.
Bloomfield scored the first four points of the second quarter to take a 20-16 lead with 9:31 left in the half. Mercy responded with a 10-1 run, capped off by an Ellwood jumper, to take a 26-21 lead with 4:27 left in the half. A Nia Mallette three made it 26-24 before the Mavericks closed the half on an 8-2 run, finished off by a Barrera layup, giving Mercy a 34-26 lead at halftime.
Mercy scored the first six points of the third quarter to take a 40-26 lead after a Lesko layup with 7:27 on the clock. An Anisha Able three-point play made it 40-29 before the Mavericks ended the quarter on a 17-4 run, finished off by a Lesko layup, to take a 57-33 lead after three quarters.
A Miller three to open the fourth quarter gave Mercy a 60-33 lead. A Mia Martinez free throw made it 60-34 before the Mavericks scored six straight points, capped off by a junior Paige Fourtin (Ansonia, Conn./Greens Farms Academy) jumper, to take a 66-34 lead with 5:56 remaining. An Able layup later made it 68-39 with 3:01 left. Mercy scored the final nine points of the game, finished off by an Ellwood three, to cruise to the 77-39 win.
Mercy was led by Barrera who had a game-high 18 points and 15 rebounds with two blocks. Lesko added 15 points and a career-high 10 assists with five rebounds. Ellwood had a career-high 10 points with six rebounds and four assists and Miller recorded nine points. Hoyt added six points and five rebounds and senior Megan Marcotte (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) and Fourtin both had four points. Sophomore Caitlin Leary (Carle Place, N.Y./Carle Place) and junior Molly Boek (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) both chipped in three points and senior Kyla Nembach (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) and junior Amani Abuhatab (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) netted two points apiece. Sophomore Gabrielle Martin (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) had one point.
Bloomfield was led by Anisha Able who had a team-high 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Mercy shot 46.4 percent (32-of-69) from the floor, 20.8 percent (5-of-24) from downtown and 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from the foul line. Bloomfield shot 20.9 percent (14-of-67) from the field, 20.0 percent (4-of-20) from beyond the arc and 77.8 percent (7-of-9) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 59-32 edge on the glass and dished out a season-high 27 assists.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Thursday, January 8th when they host Dominican at 5 p.m.
