GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- The Griffins opened up the 2018-2019 season on Tuesday night but came out with a tough 86-81 loss to King's here at The Griffin Complex.

Olivia Roseman netted a team-high 20 points, one shy of tying a personal best. Susan Bossler added 18 while Shannon Carroll kicked in 13 and Chyanne Fine with 11 respectively. The team battled back from a double-digit deficit in the first half to take a one-point lead late in the third.

Mackenzie Yori led all scorers with 26 points for the Monarchs while Alexis Steeber put up 21. 

GMercyU used a late 8-0 spurt to lead 18-12 as Thompson hit a big a three pointer, but Yori countered with a trey of her own to make it a three-point game after the first. King's came out hot in the second, scoring four quick points. The Monarchs took advantage of nine Gwynedd turnovers to help widen the lead to 11 points (35-24) and later their largest lead at 40-24 after a three from Kayla Dillinger With a three and a layup from Bossler, the Griffins used a hot streak of their own, outscoring King's 16-4 to close out the stanza to trail by three, 41-44, at halftime. 

An 11-3 run in the third helped give the Griffins their first, and last, lead of the contest after Fine worked the post for a bucket. The Monarchs put six points up in back-to-back-back possessions to put Gwynedd in a 62-57 hole at the end of the third. 

The teams continued to exchange baskets but Gwynedd clawed their way within one on three occasions, the last coming with just under three minutes to go. Yori and Steebler scored the next two field goals to make it a six-point edge. A three from Bossler with seconds to go pulled the Griffins within three (84-81), but Steebler hit both of her attempts at the line on the ensuing possession to account for the final score

The Griffins will be back in action this Friday as they host their Tip-Off Tournament with Keystone College, Albright College, and Salisbury University. GMercyU battles Keystone at 6 p.m. with Albright and Salisbury following at 8 p.m. The consolation game takes place at noon on Saturday followed by the championship at 2 p.m.