Grace Lesko spent the time between her sophomore and junior season improving her strength and conditioning.
The changes the Northampton High School graduate and Mercy University junior made are hard to ignore.
“The very first game, it’s the first thing the Bentley coach said to us when we were talking pregame,” Mercy coach Scott Lagas said. “She watched our exhibition against Iona and mentioned the difference physically in 44, which is Grace’s number, it’s tremendous.
“So, it’s not just noticeable to people who see her every day. It’s noticeable to everyone. That just comes with hard work and dedication, and that’s what she has.”
By the end of that opener, Bentley’s players had seen their fill of Lesko. She tied her career high with 30 points and also snared a game-high nine rebounds as Mercy knocked off a Bentley team that began the season ranked No. 10 in NCAA Division II.
Lesko has continued her efficient production through the season’s first two weeks. She went into Tuesday’s game against Sacred Heart leading the Mavericks (2-2 overall) in scoring (19.8 points per game) and rebounding (7.3 boards per game).
The 6-foot Lesko is producing at a high rate offensively while also taking on wider defensive responsibilities. Her improved conditioning has allowed Lagas to play her against opposing wings more often instead of sticking with post players.
“I think we’ve had a few great wins,” Lesko said. “The Bentley game really set the tone for us. This team is really ready to work, and I’m just so excited to be back and healthy and playing.”
Health kept Lesko sidelined two years ago. She didn’t play as a freshman while recovering from foot surgery.
She returned last season to play in every game. It wasn’t until midseason, however, that she felt fully confident on the court.
It showed down the stretch. Lesko scored in double figures 12 times in her final 16 games to help Mercy finish 18-10 overall and reach the East Coast Conference tournament semifinals. She averaged 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while being named the ECC rookie of the year.
“A lot of it just came with playing time and getting more comfortable,” Lesko said. “My coaches also did a great job of keeping me ready along with my teammates. They all had confidence in me that I had to find in myself, which definitely helped me progress throughout the season.”
Mercy entered this season picked to finish second in the ECC. The Mavericks have sought a challenging schedule in the hopes of returning to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
Lesko will play a leading role in determining how far Mercy goes. She is averaging 36.3 minutes per game while serving as the Mavericks’ No. 1 offensive option.
She won’t be sneaking up on any opponents with the changes she has made to her game and conditioning.
“Our expectation for her is to be our No. 1 option for scoring; that’s obvious,” Lagas said. “But also just to continue to grow in all the other parts of the game, when it comes to rebounding and being that lockdown defender and all of those things.
“And as she progresses in her career — this is really the beginning of her sophomore year — just the understanding that everyone is going to be planning for her. So, you have to continue to get better and to diversify to stay ahead of the curve.
“We expect her to be that centerpiece around pretty much every thing we do.”
Keeping it close: The Moravian men erased a six-point deficit in the final 90 seconds Saturday to pull out a 93-91 win over Wilkes. The victory moved the Greyhounds to 4-0 for the first time since 1974-75.
Moravian has thrived in close games. The Greyhounds’ four victories have come by a total of eight points, with none coming by more than three points. They dropped their first close game Monday, falling 95-89 to DeSales.
Moravian senior forward Marquis Ratcliff completed his strong November with a 28-point, nine-rebound game against DeSales. He’s averaging 30.8 points and 11.4 rebounds per game.
Tip-ins: The East Stroudsburg University men went into Tuesday’s game against Georgian Court with six players averaging between 9.3 and 13.3 points per game. The Warriors (3-0 overall) are averaging 93.3 points per game. … The Lafayette women won three straight after an 0-3 start. They visited Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
