WALTHAM, Mass. – The Mercy University Women's Basketball Team opens its 2026-27 season on Monday, November 9th when they play at #11 Bentley University at 5:30 p.m.
Who, When and Where
Date/Time: Monday, November 9th 5:30 p.m.
Records (2025-26): Mercy (22-8), #11 Bentley (23-5)
Location: Waltham, Mass.
Last Meeting vs. Bentley
Mercy dropped a 74-47 decision to Bentley in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament on March 13, 2026.
Scouting the Mavericks
Mercy enters the 2026-27 season picked second in the ECC Preseason Poll after going 22-8 last season, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years. The Mavericks advanced to the ECC Championship Final for the second time in three years and won a share of the program's first ECC Regular Season Championship. Mercy ended last season with their most wins since 1985 and won a program-record 15 ECC games. The Mavericks have won 17 or more games for four straight seasons for the first time since 1982-86. Mercy has won double-digit ECC games for four straight years for the first. The Mavericks are looking to win their first ECC Championship and qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons. Mercy also looks to qualify for the ECC Championship for the seventh straight season.
Reigning ECC Coach of the Year Scott Lagas returns 11 student-athletes from last year's team and adds a strong recruiting class consisting of four freshmen and two transfers. Leading the returners is junior Morgan Miller who averaged 6.4 points per game last year. Junior Sophia Hoyt also returns after posting 4.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and a team-high 1.8 steals per game. Graduate students Kyla Nembach and Molly Boek also return after recording 4.0 and 3.2 points per game, respectively. Nembach was also second on the team last year with 2.7 assists per game.
Juniors Gabrielle Martin, Caitlin Leary, and Haylee Ellwood and sophomores Saige Youngberg, Allie Regan, Ella Wilson, and Emily Thornton also return for Lagas. Youngberg and Thornton will both be making their collegiate debuts this season after missing last season due to injury.
Lagas welcomes junior transfer Laeticia Hardy who started her collegiate career at Division I Long Island University before playing at Northern Oklahoma College Enid last year. Hardy played in 16 games as a freshman at LIU in 2024-25 and averaged 8.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game last year at Northern Oklahoma College. Sophomore Emma Sollenne joins Mercy from Division I Mercyhurst University where she played nine games last season.
Mercy also welcome freshmen Callie Mullin, Scarlet Cubero, Tessa Porch, and Kosi Anyanwu to the fold this year. Mullin was named Tablet All-Star as a senior at Xaverian High School, Second Team CHSAA All-League and scored over 1,000 career points. Cubero joins Mercy from Saint Mary's High School where she won the State Championship as a freshman and senior. Porch was named All-NEPSAC First Team, All-FAA First Team and was NEPSGBCA Class B All-Star as a senior at Hamden Hall Country Day School, scoring over 1,000 career points. Anyanwu joins Mercy from the United Kingdom where she played for the Nottingham Wildcats club team, winning a National Championship.
The Mavericks opened their 2026-27 season with a 71-47 loss in an Exhibition at Division I Sacred Heart on Friday. Mercy was led by Mullin who had a game-high-tying 19 points. The Mavericks look to defeat Bentley in the regular season for the second straight year and are 1-6 all-time against the Falcons. Mercy looks to win their season opener for the fifth straight season.
Scouting the Falcons
Bentley was picked first in the NE10 Preseason Poll after going 23-5 last season, advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons are ranked No. 11 nationally in the WBCA Preseason Top 25 Poll. Leading the returners for Bentley is Niya Morgen who averaged a team-high 14.2 points and 1.3 steals per game last season with 5.1 rebounds per game. Kayana Armbrister returns after averaging 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and Cherish Bryant is back after posting 7.9 points per game.
Next Game
Mercy faces Franklin Pierce on Saturday, November 14th at 3 p.m. at Southern Connecticut State.
