NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Daemen University women’s basketball team won its first round game on Friday in the NCAA Division II basketball tournament hosted by Southern Connecticut State University.

The Wildcats (25-3), seeded third, defeated Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) champion Felician University by a score of 75-62 to advance to the second round.

Daemen will take on second-seeded Bentley University on Saturday, as the Falcons defeated seventh-seeded Mercy University (22-8) in another first-round game 74-47. Game time on Saturday is set for 5 p.m.

This will be the second time the two teams have met during the regular season, as the Wildcats defeated the Falcons 75-62 on January 1.

Daemen 75, Felician 62 (release courtesy of Daemen Athletic Communications)  – Box Score
#3 seed Daemen (25-3, 15-1 ECC) defeated #6 seed Felician (22-8, 15-5 CACC) in the NCAA East Region Quarterfinals at the James Moore Fieldhouse on Friday. With the win, the Wildcats advance to the East Region Semifinals for the third straight season and the fourth time in the last five years.

Daemen capitalized on Felician's 31 turnovers, converting them into 28 points. The Wildcats maintained control with a strong defensive performance, recording 18 steals and limiting Felician to just two successful three-pointers.

For Daemen, Joline Raposo tallied a team-leading 15 points, including three three-pointers, while also collecting four steals. Joline Raposo tallied a team-leading 15 points, including three three-pointers, while also collecting four steals. Ne'vaeh Buntley scored 14 points and recorded seven rebounds, showcasing her presence on the boards.

Julia Fontanillo tallied 11 points while dishing out two assists and logging two steals. Shyla Montgomery added five steals and scored eight points, reinforcing the defensive front.

The game began with Felician taking an early lead, pulling ahead 9–0 by 6:25 through a series of layups and a free throw. The Wildcats responded with a flurry of scoring led by Raposo, who hit a crucial three-pointer at 5:16 and later added free throws to tie the game at 15-15. The teams exchanged leads, with Daemen ultimately securing a narrow 23–21 advantage at the end of the first quarter, capped by Pikett's decisive three-pointer with just two seconds left.

The Wildcats surged ahead with a key sequence early in the second quarter, starting with Sophie Auer's layup assisted by Pikett, followed by Raposo's three-pointer with an assist from Kyleigh Chapman. Montgomery contributed defensively with two steals, bolstering their momentum. Despite Felician's attempts to cut the deficit, including a timeout at 7:53 and a three-pointer by McKenzie Palek, Daemen maintained control with another three-pointer from Raposo at 6:12. The quarter concluded with the Wildcats leading 39–33.

Daemen surged ahead in the third quarter with a key sequence starting at 6:26 when Buntley hit a three-pointer, assisted by Raposo, to extend its lead. Pikett further contributed with an offensive rebound and a subsequent layup, prompting a timeout from Felician at 5:59. The Wildcats maintained control throughout the quarter, finishing with a 17–13 advantage in the frame and leading 56–46.

Daemen secured its lead in the final quarter with a solid performance at the free-throw line, converting all 11 attempts. Pikett contributed significantly with a layup and a free throw, extending the Wildcats' advantage to 61–53 at the 6:00 mark. Despite Felician's push, including a three-pointer by Stephanie Formby, the Wildcats maintained control through consistent defensive efforts and timely scoring. Auer's late jumper and free throws sealed the match, and the game ended with the Wildcats winning 75–62.

Bentley 74, Mercy 47 (release courtesy of Mercy University Athletic Communications) – Box Score
Despite three Mavericks scoring in double figures, the No. 7 seeded Mercy University Women's Basketball Team dropped a 74-47 decision to No. 2 seeded Bentley University in the First Round of the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship on Friday afternoon at James Moore Fieldhouse.

The Mavericks (22-8) see their season end in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years. Mercy falls to the defending East Region Champion Falcons (23-4) after defeating them on November 15th. The Mavericks end the season with their most wins since 1985 and their third NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. Mercy won a share of their first-ever ECC Regular Season Championship and won a program-record 15 ECC games. Bentley will face Daemen in the Second Round tomorrow at 5 p.m. at Southern Connecticut State.
 
The game began with Mercy taking an early lead thanks to junior Amani Abuhatab's at 8:40. However, Bentley responded quickly with Niya Morgen's layup and subsequent 3-pointer, establishing their presence on the court. Morgen continued to be a significant force, contributing another 3-pointer and a layup, pushing Bentley ahead 12-2 by 5:33. A Julia Elie layup gave the Falcons a 21-2 lead with 2:57 left in the quarter. Junior Grace Lesko added a layup for Mercy at 2:47, but Bentley's offensive dominance was clear. A late 3-pointer by junior Molly Boek, assisted by senior Kyla Nembach, cut the Falcons' lead to 25-7 after the first quarter.

Bentley dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Mavericks 24-9. Mercy scored the first four points of the second quarter to make it 25-11 at the 8:36 mark after a sophomore Morgan Miller free throw. The Falcons ended the half on a 24-5 run to take a 49-16 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Lesko contributed significantly with a layup and two free throws early, reducing Bentley's lead to 49-20. Senior Angelina Barrera capitalized on a defensive rebound to score a layup at 6:13, continuing her scoring run and shrinking the gap to 51-27. A Lesko layup later made it 51-29 at the 5:26 mark, forcing a Bentley timeout after Mercy started the quarter on a 13-2 run. After the timeout, the Falcons went on a 9-0 run to increase the lead to 31, 60-29, with 2:57 on the clock and headed into the fourth quarter with a 64-35 lead, despite Mercy outscoring Bentley 19-15 in the quarter.

In the final quarter, Mercy made a concerted effort to close the gap, outscoring Bentley 12-10. Lesko contributed significantly with a pair of free throws at 6:53 and a jumper in the paint at 4:15. Boek provided a late surge for Mercy with a quick sequence, scoring a layup and converting a three-point play in the last minute. Despite this effort, Bentley held on to secure the victory. The Mavericks outscored the Falcons 31-25 in the second half.

Lesko led the Mavericks with 16 points, converting 8 of 11 free throws and recording five steals. Lesko ends her season with 551 points, setting a new school record for points in a season. The junior surpasses the previous record of 548 set by Helen Peros in 1978. Barrera added 14 points, hitting 6 of 14 from the field, and contributed two rebounds. Boek scored 11 points and collected four rebounds, including two on the offensive end. Abuhatab posted four points and added a steal in the game. Miller and sophomore Gabrielle Martin added one point.