¾«¶«´«Ã½

 

 2/24/26

 

Mercer women’s basketball held Women in Sports Night at their final regular season game on Tuesday February 17^th. 

 

National Girls and Women in Sports Day was on February 4^th and 2026 marked the 40^th anniversary of this day.  This day recognizes the positive influence of sports for girls and women as well as honoring the progress and achievements of female athletes.

 

In honor of this day, the ¾«¶«´«Ã½ Athletic Department chose to recognize one second year athlete from each of its four women’s sports teams for their leadership, teamwork and sportsmanship as well as their academic and athletic achievements.

 

Women’s basketball selection was Mayah Alford, a Liberal Arts major from Levittown, PA.  Alford earned All-Conference All-Academic honors for the Fall 2025 semester.  Alford is a two-time Garden State Athletic Conference Player of the Week for the 2025-2026 season.  Alford is averaging a double double (14.7 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game). Alford is second in the nation in steals and in the top 15 in offensive rebounds and rebounds per game.

 

“Mayah comes to practice with a smile and positive attitude every day.  Mayah works hard and pushes herself every practice and game, setting a great example for her teammates to follow.  Even if exhausted or hurt, Mayah finds a way to tough it out and do whatever is needed to help her team win and compete.”

 

Women’s tennis selection who is also on Mercer’s women’s soccer team is Julia Fillat Ferrar, a Advertising & Graphic Design Major from Barcelona, Spain.  Fillat Ferrar was an NJCAA Academic All-American for the 2024-2025 academic year.  Fillat Ferrar earned All-Region and All-Conference All-Academic honors in all 3 of her semesters at Mercer.  As a member of the women’s soccer team Fillat Ferrar scored 9 goals in 2 seasons and helped Mercer win the 2024 Region 19 Championship and finish as Region 19 Runner-Ups in 2025. 

 

Fillat Ferrar was also on the women’s tennis team which had their highest ever finish at the 2025 Division I National Championship.  Julia played both 2^nd Singles and 1^st Doubles.  Fillat Ferrar was selected as Mercer’s National Women in Sports Day Award Winner and was recently honored by Region 19.

 

“Though quiet, Julia leads by example and her hard work ethic.  You will find Julia supporting Mercer’s sports teams while balancing a busy and challenging course load.  Julia is a player who does whatever is asked of her and a player her coaches never have to worry about as she will show up for any team functions, meetings or practices.”

 

Women’s soccer selection was Ana Pacheco, an Engineering Science major from Florianopolis, Brazil. Pacheco earned All-Region and All-Conference All-Academic honors in Spring and Fall of 2025.  In two seasons on the soccer team, Pacheco scored 13 goals and had five assists.  Pacheco was a member of the 2024 Region 19 Championship team and 2025 Region 19 Runner-Ups.

 

“Ana pushed through injuries this fall and gave everything she had in every game and practice.  Her determination and hard work set an example for all her teammates to follow.  Ana was a player her was never satisfied with her play even if it was excellent as she poured everything she had onto the soccer field.  Though hard on herself, Ana was always encouraging her teammates and doing whatever the coaches asked of her.”

 

Jozalyn Sheipe-Warthen was softball’s selection, a Radiography major from Mount Holly, NJ.  Sheipe-Warthen earned GSAC and Region 19 1^st Team honors last spring and was named the Garden State Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year.  Sheipe-Warthen helped Mercer win both the Region 19 and Atlantic A District Championship and earn a trip to the NJCAA Division II World Series. Sheipe-Warthen was named the Region 19 Tournament MVP.  Mercer set a program record with 43 wins in 2025. 

 

Sheipe-Warthen went 27-4 last spring and finished with the third most wins in the country.  Sheipe-Warthen pitched 188 innings and had 110 strikeouts and 14 shutouts.  Sheipe-Warthen also batted .384 on the season and had 43 hits and 27 RBIs.  Sheipe-Warthen earned All-Conference and All-Region All-Academic honors each of her three semesters at Mercer.

 

“Jozalyn had to pitch a lot of innings last season and quietly took the mound with no hesitation or complaints.  In games she didn’t pitch Jozalyn would play outfield.  Her work ethic and determination set an example for her teammates to follow as she would do whatever was needed to help her team win and compete.”

 

Congratulations to these four student athletes!

 

For more on the success and achievements of these female student athletes visit: /athletics_home.shtml