GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Gwynedd Mercy made a huge third-quarter rally, erasing a 23-point deficit, to go on and win 69-63 over local rival Arcadia in the inaugural 'Battle of Route 309' Tuesday night at the Griffin Complex.

Sophomores Julianna Hoisington and Larissa Leyes came alive after halftime, combining to sink nine of the team's 11 three-pointers. Both finished with career highs in points, as Hoisington totaled 21 and Leyes with 12 as the Griffins (3-0) battled back from a dismal second quarter.

Off to a running start, a six point run for the Griffins helped them go up 8-2 early in the first.  However, the Knights would be quick to battle back with their own six point swing to tie the game as both teams ended the quarter even at 10-10.

In the second, the Knights (0-2) would continue to build on that momentum as they went on a run outscoring the Griffins 11-0. With 5:34 left in the second, Olivia Bradford would break the Griffins drought with a layup.  But the basket just wouldn't be enough as the Knights hit five of their eight three pointers in the quarter and take a 37-18 lead into the half.

The lead grew to 43-20 early in the third before the Griffins were able to dial up some long range daggers. Back-to-back trey's from Hoisington and Leyes would cap an 11-0 run of their own. With five three's in the period, GMercyU would get it down 52-38 after three.

The momentum continued in the fourth, as downtown buckets from junior Charlotte Kucowski, Hoisington, and Leyes made it a three-point game two minutes into the stanza. It would turn into a 19-1 run as Gwynedd would take its first lead since the first quarter on a longball from Hoisington. All the Griffin shooters were on fire and would eventually outscore the Knights, 31-11, and shoot a blazing 9-of-11 and 6-of-7 from deep in the final 10 minutes.

Arcadia, who had hit six of their own three-pointers in the first half, gave it one last push, tying it at 61-61 with 3:05 left with a three. Kucowski would later hit two free throws to give the Griffins the lead for good with 2:23 showing. Arcadia would not hit a field goal for the next 2:03 while Gwynedd was able to go 4-for-6 at the line down the stretch to help ice the contest.

Arcadia had two players register a double double. Addy Crenny totaled 21 points and 11 caroms while Valeria DiMuro added 15 points and 14 boards. Both players also added two blocks each respectively. After shooting over 43% in the first two quarters and 50% from behind the arc, the Knights were just 37% in the latter half and 30% in the final period. Olivia Roseman was good on 5-of-9 from downtown to finish with 15 points.

Kucowski was the third player to finish in double figures for GMercyU, tallying 17 points. Hoisington also snared a team-high seven rebounds, which also was a personal best.

The Griffins are back in action on Saturday as they take on DeSales here at the Griffin Complex in a 1 p.m. tip.