AMHERST, N.Y. — Daemen (24-3, 15-1 ECC) won its fifth straight ECC championship, edging Mercy (22-7, 15-1 ECC), 73-68, at Lumsden Gymnasium.  With the win, the Wildcats qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the seventh straight season

Daemen's defense was pivotal, forcing 24 turnovers that led to 24 points. The Wildcats also capitalized on 11 three-pointers and secured a crucial lead in the final quarter to secure the win.

Sophomore Ne'vaeh Buntley (Rochester, N.Y.) was named ECC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, while Claire Pikett (Holland, N.Y.) and Sophie Auer (Lewiston, N.Y.) were named to the All-Tournament Team.

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Pikett led the scoring for the Wildcats with 25 points, hitting six three-pointers, recording four steals, and grabbing four rebounds. 
•  Buntley added 20 points, making three shots from beyond the arc and collecting six steals.
• Auer finished with 13 points and converted all six of her free-throw attempts while corralling seven rebounds.
• Julia Fontanillo (Valladolid, Spain) scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds. 
• Kyleigh Chapman (Canandaigua, N.Y.) contributed defensively with two blocks while dishing out a team-high five assists.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Daemen opened the first quarter with effective shooting, highlighted by Pikett's early three-pointer at 9:16, assisted by Shyla Montgomery (Brockton, Mass.). The Wildcats established a lead with a strong presence in the paint, notably with Buntley capitalizing on a fast-break layup at 7:48 to make it 7-5. Auer contributed from the free-throw line, converting both attempts at 6:38. The Wildcats maintained their advantage through consistent defensive pressure, including a block by Pikett at 7:02. The quarter concluded with Daemen leading 19–14.
• The Wildcats' momentum surged with a critical sequence initiated by Pikett's steal and subsequent fast break layup at 6:46, followed by a successful free throw to extend their lead. Buntley contributed significantly by scoring a three-pointer at 4:40 and adding two free throws at 4:00, helping Daemen maintain its advantage. Despite turnovers, the Wildcats held a narrow 36–35 edge before Mercy briefly overtook the lead. The quarter ended with a Mercy turnover, and the Wildcats trailed 37–36 at halftime.
• Daemen's third quarter was marked by a series of crucial plays, beginning with Buntley's 3-pointer at 7:42 that tied the game at 41. The team showed resilience, with Fontanillo's fast-break layup at 3:11 bringing the score back to level at 50. Despite Mercy's persistent scoring, the Wildcats pressed forward with Joline Raposo's (Tampa, Fla.) three-pointer at 0:37, narrowing the margin to 56–55. The quarter concluded with Mercy ahead, 56-55. 
• Daemen started the fourth with a critical three-pointer by Pikett at 8:03, assisted by Raposo, pushing the score to 58-56. A sequence of defensive plays, including a key steal by Buntley at 4:34, helped Daemen maintain its lead. Auer's clutch three-pointer at 1:19, with an assist from Chapman, extended Daemen's advantage to 71-68. Despite Mercy's efforts, the Wildcats secured the victory 73-68 with Montgomery's final free throw, concluding the game.

GAME NOTES

• Daemen achieved a season high of 11 three-point field goals made in the game.
• Buntley scored at least 20 total points for the third consecutive game.
• Auer made a season-high 6 free throws.
• Daemen logged 14 steals, marking the 15th consecutive game it has recorded 12 or more.
• The Wildcats forced 24 Maverick turnovers, scoring 24 points off of them.
• The points in the paint finished even at 28-28. 
• With the win, the Wildcats now have 13-3 record in the ECC Tournament.  
• Daemen is 24-4 all-time against Mercy and 2-0 in the postseason.

UP NEXT
Daemen now await its NCAA Tournament opponent. The selection show will air at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday on NCAA.com. .

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Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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