GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. – The Gwynedd-Mercy Women's Basketball team grinded out a non-league win, holding off visiting King's, 59-49, Tuesday night.
Senior Brittany Neill netted 14 points and added six rebounds while teammate Bryn Cotteta chipped in eight points, six assists, and three steals.
Paige Carlin had game-highs of 25 points and nine boards off the bench, as she was the only player to reach double figures for King's.
Early on, it was a defensive struggle as both teams had trouble finding an offensive rhythm. Gwynedd (4-3) led 13-12 before Neill hit one of her four three-pointers with 5:51 left in the half. Down 29-20, the Monarch's Kaitlin Michaels converted a three point play with three seconds remaining. On the inbound, Neill sent GM up by 12 as she hit from just inside half-court on a buzzer beater to end the stanza.
King's (6-2) answered the second half with a 17-8 run over a nine-minute span to get as close as three points, but the Griffins were able to fight off the charge to pick up their fourth win on the season.
Later, three-pointers from Jordan Dominic and Lauren Smith helped turn a six-point edge into a 52-40 lead with just over five to play.
Defense was the name of the game as each squad had nine blocks and forced 17 turnovers apiece while King's held a slight 46-44 edge on the boards.
Freshman Shea Wassel had five blocks to go along with her eight points and eight rebounds.
Carlin and Melissa Manning had three blocks each for the Monarchs. Manning finished with seven points and five caroms.
The Griffins shot 33.3% (21-of-63) from the floor including a 11-for-15 stint at the line. King's was just 17-of-63 (27.0%).