AMHERST, N.Y. – Despite a team-high 24 points and nine rebounds from junior Grace Lesko (Northampton, Pa./Northampton), the No. 2 seeded Mercy University Women's Basketball Team dropped a hard-fought 73-68 decision at No. 1 seeded Daemen University in the ECC Women's Basketball Championship Final on Sunday afternoon at Lumsden Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (22-7) see their seven-game winning streak come to an end and fall to the Wildcats (24-3) in the final for the second time in three years. Daemen wins their fifth straight ECC Championship. Mercy will now await a likely NCAA Tournament berth. The selection show will be held tonight at 10:30 PM and can be seen on NCAA.com.
Lesko and junior Amani Abuhatab (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) were named to the All-Tournament Team. Lesko averaged 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game during the Championship and Abuhatab averaged 18.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in the two games.
The game opened with Daemen's Claire Pikett scoring a three-pointer at 9:16, assisted by Shyla Montgomery, establishing an early lead. The Mavericks responded with a jumper in the paint by senior Kyla Nembach (Lynbrook, N.Y./Lynbrook) at 8:54, narrowing the gap. Lesko contributed significantly with a three-pointer at 7:29 and a layup at 4:25, keeping the Mavericks within striking distance. Despite this, Daemen maintained their lead with Pikett adding another three-pointer at 4:08. Abuhatab's three-pointer at 2:34 and a layup by Lesko at 1:05 brought the Mavericks closer, but Daemen ended the quarter ahead, 19-14.
Lesko led the Mavericks' charge in the second quarter with a key layup and a successful free throw early on. Despite Daemen's efforts to maintain their lead, Lesko's jumper brought the Mavericks within striking distance, narrowing the gap. Sophomore Morgan Miller (Branford, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy) contributed with two free throws, and Abuhatab's layup, followed by a free throw, further closed the margin. Nembach's critical three-pointer at 2:11 got the Mavericks to within two, 35-33, and a senior Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) layup with 1:24 on the clock tied the game at 35-35. Daemen regained the lead with a made free throw before an Abuhatab jumper gave Mercy a 37-36 lead at halftime. The Mavericks ended the half on a 14-3 run after trailing 33-23 with 4:00 left in the half.
Mercy opened the third quarter on a 13-7 run to take their largest lead of the game, 50-43, after an Abuhatab jumper with 4:40 on the clock. Ne'vaeh Buntley of Daemen hit a crucial three-pointer at 4:22 to close the gap, and Joline Raposo added another 3-pointer with 37 seconds remaining to bring Daemen within one point. Mercy headed into the fourth quarter up, 56-55.
Daemen began the fourth quarter on an 8-2 run to retake the lead at 63-58 with 5:22 left to play. Abuhatab answered with a three and Barrera made two free throws to tie the game at 63-63 with 3:57 remaining. A Pikett three made it 66-63 before Lesko connected on a layup to make it 66-65. Sophie Auer went 2-of-2 from the line to give the Wildcats a 68-65 lead before three consecutive points from Abuhatab tied the score again at 68-68 with 1:44 on the clock. Auer made a three on the next Daemen possession to put the hosts up 71-68 with 1:19 left. Buntley and Montgomery both went 1-of-2 from the line to make it 73-68 with seven seconds left and the Wildcats held on for the win.
Lesko scored a team-high 24 points on 11-of-17 shooting and collected a game-high nine rebounds. Abuhatab added 16 points while shooting 50% from the field and pulled down four rebounds. Barrera contributed with 10 points, recorded seven rebounds, and posted two blocks. Nembach finished with seven points and five assists, directing the offense effectively. Miller recorded nine points and sophomore Gabrielle Martin (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie Central) contributed two points.
Daemen was led by Pikett who had a game-high 25 points. Buntley added 20 points and Auer netted 13 points. Buntley was named the Championship's Most Outstanding Player.
Mercy shot 48.1 percent (26-of-54) from the floor, 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from downtown and 91.7 percent (11-of-12) from the foul line. Daemen shot 45.5 percent (25-of-55) from the field, 55.0 percent (11-of-20) from beyond the arc and 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the charity stripe. Mercy held a 32-24 edge on the glass.
