GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Cabrini went ahead late in the fourth quarter to escape The Griffin Complex with a 66-65 decision over Gwynedd Mercy Saturday afternoon in the Atlantic East Conference opener for both squads.

Susan Bossler led the Griffins with 17 points and added five rebounds and two assists. Olivia Roseman kicked in 13 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while Sydney Thompson added 12 points.

Cabrini was led by Nomi Washington with a game-high 19 points and six steals.

The Griffins had the edge on the glass over Cabrini with a 41-31 edge but GMercyU was guilty of 25 turnovers that led to 23 Cavalier points.

A tight first quarter saw eight lead changes and four ties. Bossler hit two back-to-back threes to allow Gwynedd to keep their lead at 8-5. With 5 minutes left in the stanza, Cabrini hit a three to give them their first lead of the game. A big three from Sydney Thompson capped a 6-0 run to end the frame and give the Griffins a six-point lead. 

In the second, Gwynedd saw their lead go as high as eight early on after a triple from Monet McGorda, and as low as 27-25 with 2:59 left in the half. Shannon Carroll hit a jumper in the paint after she stole the ball on the other end of the court for a 33-26 edge with just over a minute. The quarter ended with a score of 34-28. 

The third quarter saw both teams exchange baskets, but Gwynedd was able to stay on top to lead 48-44 heading into the final frame.

The final quarter went scoreless for the first two minutes before Gwynedd built their largest lead of the game, 55-46, on a trey from Thompson with 5:44 to play. Roseman connected from deep for a 60-54 score with 2:21 on the clock. Washington countered with a three of her own and again on a three-point play in consecutive possessions to tie things up at the 1:18 mark. After Denise Sacco hit one of two from the free throwline, the teams traded three-pointers. Kate Lannon's layup with 20 ticks showing gave the Cavaliers the lead for the first time since early in the first. Now trailing by two and with both teams in the penalty, McGorda was fouled and sent to the line with 5.5 seconds showing. She would make the first but her second rimmed out and the team was unable to get a shot off before the buzzer.

Lannon finished with 13 points and five swipes as Cabrini also totaled 17 steals.