SCRANTON, PA. -- Gwynedd Mercy University defeated Marywood, 83-73, in the first round of the Colonial States Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Monday night.

Senior Jordan Dominic scored a game-high 19 points connecting on a personal-best six three pointers. Junior Kelsey Yori added 16 points and senior Lauren Smith chipped in 12 as Gwynedd avenged to regular-season defeats to the Pacers with a playoff knockout for the third year in a row.

The Griffins now travel to top-seeded Cabrini for a semifinal matchup on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Cavaliers took both games during the season, including a close overtime defeat here at the Griffin Complex last Monday.

The first half was a tight as you could get, featuring nine lead changes and five ties, and with no team with a lead larger than six points. Morgann Haduck gave Marywood their largest lead of the half, 21-15, midway in the stanza when she connected on a three pointer. GM would slowly claw back in it to lead 39-37 heading into the halftime break.

Gwynedd stretched their lead to nine (54-45) with 13:10 remaining off a Dominic three pointer. Later, a tough layup from junior Natasha Matthews gave the Griffins their first double digit lead of the game, 56-45.

The Pacers would not go away, responding with an 8-0 run. Marywood would get as close as four on two occasions, the last coming with 4:56 left. Smith kept the hot hand and would answer again this time with a three ball a minute later.  Dominic put the lead back up double digits on the next possession, sinking her sixth triple of the game. The Griffins would close out the game with hitting five of six free throws n the final minute. 

Smith would add six assists while Matthews finished with nine points and six boards. Freshman Nicole Dombrowski pulled down a game-high and season-high 11 rebounds.

GM finished with 13 three-pointers, shooting over 40% in both halves overall. After going 46% in the first 20 minutes, Marywood was just 37% in the second including an 0-for-7 stint from downtown.