GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Gwynedd Mercy powered their way to a season-opening victory in a 65-43 win over Ursinus Friday night in the Gwynedd Mercy Tip-Off Tournament.

Junior Charlotte Kucowski had 15 points and 13 rebounds, both game highs, along with three steals and a career-high five blocks. Fellow classmate Nicole Dombrowski added 14 and senior Chandler DiFebbo chipped in 10 as the Griffins move on to the championship game against, William Paterson, who defeated Lycoming, 66-56, in the evening's first game tomorrow at 2 p.m.

In the new four-quarter format for women's basketball this season, each team made only five field goals apiece in  the first 10 minutes of play. A trey from Caroline Shimrock put the Bears ahead by one late in the period, only to be trumped by a big three-pointer from sophomore Alison Szyszko on the next possession. Ursinus would get a late bucket to knot it at 12-12 after the first 10 minutes.  In the second period two big three-pointers from sophomore Bianca Adams and later Julianna Hoisington was part of a 9-2 run to open the stanza. With seconds remaining, Adams found Dombrowski with a nice low post pass to beat the halftime buzzer for a 30-21 lead at the break.

A 12-5 run to open the third put GMercyU up 42-26, forcing the Bears to call timeout. Later on, Kucowski would snare a defensive rebound and race the length of the floor to put in a twisting layup and draw a foul to get the crowd up and on its feet.  Ursinus again, connected late, this time on a trey to make it a 44-31 game after three.

Leading 50-39 midway in the fourth, Gwynedd put the game out of reach with an 15-4 run to close the game.

Kucowski would net 13 of her 15 points in the final two quarters. Defensively, the Griffins forced 22 turnovers which led to 24 points.

Jessica Porada led the Bears with 14 points. Alyssa Polimeni contributed 10 points and nine boards. Elana Roadcloud would pull down a team-high 10 rebounds and block two shots.

As a team, the Griffins were 22-of-60 (36.7%) from the floor and would hold a 47-40 rebound edge.

Ursinus will square off with Lycoming in the consolation game tomorrow at noon.