GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Gwynedd Mercy picked up their second win in three days, fighting off Penn State-Harrisburg, 78-67, Wednesday night at The Griffin Complex.
All five starters reached double figures in scoring led by Olivia Roseman with 17 points. Chyanne Fine and Susan Bossler each had 15 points while Shannon Carroll added 13 and Denise Sacco with 12 respectively.
Gwynedd labored through 10 first-half three pointers by the Lions, six of which came in the first quarter, as Harrisburg was able to build a one-point lead at halftime.
Penn State's Shanique Mattis was the game leader with 22 points and 8 rebounds.
Chyanne Fine put up the first points of the game after sinking a layup which was quickly followed by a three from Mattis. GMercyU then scored nine-straight points to take an 11-3 lead midway through the quarter. The Lions hit their sixth three pointer of the frame at the buzzer to get within three (23-20) after one.
The Nittany Lions started off the second quarter with a three to tie it up, but Roseman snagged a rebound to allow Fine to take the lead back. With 5:33 left in the half, Penn State hit from downtown to get within one point. Two minutes later, Laurel Amey's jumper in the paint gave the Lions the lead. Bossler answered on the next possession with a three of her own to put Gwynedd back on top. Rachel Miller connected for Penn State, ending the second the exact same way as the first, by hitting a three at the right before the buzzer for a 36-35 advantage at halftime.
In the third, the Griffins made some adjustments, limiting Penn State to just 11 points in the quarter while shooting 61% from the floor including four triples, one each from Bossler, Roseman, Sacco, and Carroll. GMercyU opened up a 60-47 lead heading into the final period.
Shannon Carroll added a basket quickly in the fourth quarter, but each team went scoreless for a couple minutes until PSU hit a layup. As the quarter progressed, the teams continued to exchange baskets. A steal by Roseman allowed Shannon Carroll to hit a layup in transition, but PSU quickly did the same. Penn State climbed within seven (66-59) with 2:39 remaining, but Gwynedd would go 8-for-12 at the free-throw line the rest of the way to help cement the outcome.
Amey netted 18 points for PSU, as she hit four of the team's 12 trifectas during the game. Miller finished with eight points.
Sydney Thompson led Gwynedd in rebounding for the second-straight game, pulling down seven. Fine grabbed six while Carroll snagged five. Roseman also added five caroms, four assists, and a pair of steals. Rookie Emma Keal kicked in six second-half points.
The Griffins will be back in action as they travel to Moravian on Saturday for a 2 p.m. game.