Griffins build up big first-half lead en route to 75-54 win over Giants in CSAC action Saturday

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La Plume, Pa.—Gwynedd Mercy bolted out to a 22-point halftime lead and cruised to a 75-54 victory over Keystone College in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Gambal Athletic Center.

Senior guard Julianna Hoisington and sophomore forward Chyanne Fine scored 17 points apiece and sophomore guard Denise Sacco came off the bench and contributed nine points as the Griffins snapped a two-game losing streak to improve to 13-8 overall and stay atop of the CSAC North division standings with a 10-2 mark.

Keystone, which held a fourth-quarter lead against Gwynedd Mercy in the first matchup in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, on January 22 before losing 66-52, was led by freshman guard Bre Moore with 13 points and sophomore center Maddy Moro had 12 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

The game turned permanently in Gwynedd Mercy's favor in the second period after Moro picked up her second foul.  With Moro on the bench, the Griffins dominated down low, out-scoring the Giants, 28-11, in the second period on their way to building up a 44-22 halftime lead.  Fine connected on 6 of 8 shots from the field and finished with 12 points, four assists and two steals in the first-half alone.

The Griffins held a 22-12 lead in points in the paint and their reserves out-scored Keystone's bench, 17-0, in the first half. Gwynedd Mercy's lead was never seriously threatened in the second half.  For the game, the Griffins out-scored the Giants, 40-20, in the paint and held a 27-13 advantage in bench points.

Moore also finished with five assists, three rebounds and three steals for Keystone, which will open a two-game CSAC road trip this Wednesday, February 7, against Cedar Crest College in Allentown beginning at 7:00 p.m.  Moore has now scored in double figures in three of her last five games and 13 times this season.

Despite playing just 24 minutes, Moro recorded her second straight 'double double' in points and rebounds and her sixth of the season.  She has also blocked six shots in her last two games.

The Giants, now 4-17 overall and 3-9 in the CSAC, also received seven points and five rebounds from freshman forward Samy Farah and senior guard Nina Hodanich chipped in six points, five rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.