DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. — D'Youville fell to Mercy University, 66-50, in an ECC contest at the Neil Judge Student Athlete Center. The Saints held a brief lead during the game, but the Mavericks' 17 successful free throws provided a decisive advantage. D'Youville managed 27 total rebounds and scored 24 points in the paint, yet they were unable to overcome turnovers and a third quarter in which they were limited to just 7 points.

D'Youville initiated the game with a strong offensive start, highlighted by Aliviya Vallone Russell's (Buffalo, N.Y. / Cardinal O' Hara) 3-pointer at 9:02, assisted by Alyssa Neumann (Silverdale, Wash. / Central Kitsap). Despite trailing at several points, the Saints kept pace with the Mavericks, thanks in part to Neumann's second 3-pointer at 2:27, which temporarily gave them a lead. The first quarter concluded with Mercy narrowly ahead, 14-13.

D'Youville surged early in the second quarter with Molly O'Toole (Rochester, N.Y. / Aquinas Institute) scoring consecutively, contributing to a brief lead. However, a series of turnovers allowed the Mavericks to mount a comeback, as D'Youville's offense stalled midway through the period. Despite a late push highlighted by Russell's three-pointer and subsequent jumper, D'Youville trailed 29–26 at the close of the quarter.

D'Youville faced a challenging third quarter as their offensive efforts were limited, managing just seven points. Megan Fedor (Elmira, N.Y. / Elmira) contributed defensively with a steal at 8:33 and later added a layup at the end of the quarter to narrow the gap slightly. However, Mercy's strong 16-point performance extended their lead. The quarter concluded with the Mavericks ahead, 45-33, setting a significant margin going into the final quarter.

D'Youville's fourth quarter was marked by persistent efforts to close the gap against the Mavericks. O'Toole contributed significantly, scoring a layup at 8:53 and completing a three-point play at 1:18, narrowing the deficit. Despite a series of free throws and layups, D'Youville's attempts were met with consistent responses from Mercy from the line and in the paint. The quarter concluded with D'Youville outscored 21–17, and the Mavericks secured the win with a final score of 66–50.

Russell led the team with 14 points, including three 3-pointers, and added four assists. O'Toole scored 12 points and collected five rebounds. Neumann contributed 11 points and secured eight rebounds. Fedor added nine points and recorded three rebounds.

Up Next
The D'Youville University women's basketball team closes out the 2025 portion of their season with a non-conference matchup at #20 Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Thursday, December 18th at 3:00 PM before their final home game against Lake Erie College on Sunday, December 21st.