DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – The Mercy University Women's Basketball Team has received the program's third-ever bid into the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship. The Mavericks earned the No. 7 seed in the East Region by virtue of going 22-7, advancing to the ECC Championship Final for the second time in three years. All games for the East Region will take place at top-seeded Southern Connecticut State University.

Mercy will now face No. 2 seed Bentley University in a Regional Quarterfinal matchup on Friday, March 13th. The Mavericks defeated Bentley 64-61 in their season opener on November 15th. Mercy faced the Falcons in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament in 2024, dropping a 63-50 decision. Bentley is 22-4 on the year and is ranked No. 9 nationally in the latest WBCA Poll.

The Mavericks are making their third appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Mercy has their most wins since the 1984-85 season and finished with a school-record 15 ECC wins. The Mavericks have been led by ECC Player of the Year junior Grace Lesko who averages a team-high 18.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. First Team All-ECC selection junior Amani Abuhatab averages 14.1 points per game and Second Team All-ECC recipient senior Angelina Barrera nets 11.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.

The winner of the Bentley/Mercy game will face the winner of No. 3 Daemen/No. 6 Felician in a Regional Semifinal on Saturday, March 14th. On the other side of the bracket No. 1 Southern Connecticut will face No. 8 Saint Michael's and No. 4 Assumption will face No. 5 Holy Family. The Regional Final will be played on Monday, March 16th. All three rounds will be played at Southern Connecticut State University.