DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Powered by a combined 51 points from juniors Grace Lesko (Northampton, Pa./Northampton) and Amani Abuhatab (West Haven, Conn./West Haven), the Mercy University Women's Basketball Team secured a share of their first-ever ECC Regular Season Championship with a 73-47 Senior Day win over ECC foe St. Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday afternoon at the Judge Athletic Center.
In a ceremony prior to the game, seniors Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic), Megan Marcotte (Enfield, Conn./Enfield) and Kyla Nembach (Lynbrook, N.Y/Lynbrook) were honored for their contributions to the program.
The Mavericks (21-6, 15-1 ECC) end the regular season as Co-ECC Regular Season Champions for the first time in program history, sharing the title with Daemen. Mercy now has their most wins since the 1985 season and their 15 ECC wins this season are a program record. The Mavericks end the regular season with six straight wins and have won 16 of their last 17 games. The win is Head Coach Scott Lagas' 100th career win. Lagas becomes the third coach in program history to record 100 career wins. Mercy sweeps the season series with the Spartans (8-20, 5-11 ECC) for the second straight season. The Mavericks have secured the No. 2 seed in next week's ECC Women's Basketball Championship due to losing a tiebreaker with Daemen and will face the winner of #3 Molloy/#6 District of Columbia at Daemen on Saturday, March 7th at 2:30 p.m. in a semifinal.
Mercy took control early on Saturday, establishing a commanding lead over St. Thomas Aquinas with a strong inside presence. Lesko spearheaded the offensive effort for the Mavericks, scoring multiple layups and contributing a three-pointer at the 1:59 mark. Abuhatab added to the momentum with a jumper and a late three-pointer, pushing the score to 22-7. Barrera and Nembach provided key assists, enhancing Mercy's offensive flow. The quarter concluded with sophomore Morgan Miller (Branford, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy) sinking two free throws, securing a 24-7 advantage for the Mavericks.
In the second quarter, the Mavericks maintained their lead with a strong performance, highlighted by Lesko, who scored 11 points, including a layup and a free throw at 6:25, bringing the score to 33-11. Abuhatab contributed significantly with a fast-break layup at 5:46 and added free throws later, extending Mercy's advantage. The Spartans struggled from the free-throw line, missing multiple attempts, including Cassidy Mahaney's pair at 6:56. Despite a late push with Toni Schuetze's three-pointer at 2:06, the Spartans ended the quarter trailing 46-22.
Mercy extended its lead in the third quarter, fueled by Abuhatab's early three-pointer at 9:45 and Nembach's assist. Miller's layup at 7:54, assisted by Nembach, further widened the gap. Lesko contributed from the free-throw line, converting three out of four attempts during the quarter. The Spartans struggled to keep pace, with their efforts highlighted by Bailey Chapman's fast-break three-pointer at 3:22. The Mavericks closed the quarter with a 67-33 advantage, bolstered by a late three-pointer from Nembach with just 15 seconds remaining.
Mercy cruised to the win in the fourth quarter with sophomore Gabrielle Martin (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) and Marcotte recording baskets to give the Mavericks a 73-47 win.
Lesko led the Mavericks with a game-high and career-high-tying 30 points, hitting 11 of 16 shots from the field and making 7 of 10 free throws while collecting eight rebounds. Abuhatab contributed 21 points, converting 7 of 12 field goal attempts, including two 3-pointers, and added three rebounds. Miller recorded three steals, scored six points, and made all four of her free throw attempts. Barrera added seven points and Nembach had three points, seven rebounds and four assists. Marcotte recorded two points, four rebounds, two assists and one block and Martin netted two points. Junior Molly Boek (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) made an impact defensively with three blocks, alongside two points and one rebound.
Chapman led the Spartans with 11 points, shooting 5-for-10 from the field and adding four rebounds. Schuetze rounded out the scoring with 10 points, including two three-pointers.
Mercy shot 51.0 percent (26-of-51) from the floor, 36.4 percent (4-of-11) from downtown and 77.3 percent (17-of-22) from the foul line. STAC shot 37.3 percent (19-of-51) from the field, 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from beyond the arc and 40.0 percent (4-of-10) from the charity stripe. Rebounds were tied at 31-31.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, March 7th when they face the winner of Molloy/UDC at Daemen in the ECC Women's Basketball Championship at 2:30 p.m.
