Gwynedd Valley, Pa. - (11/9/2021) - Gwynedd Mercy University (0-1) welcomed King College (PA) (1-0) to the Griffin Complex this evening for their 2021-2022 season opener. From the opening tip it felt as if the ball never touched the ground in a high-paced affair that finished with Gwynedd Mercy University closing in on the Monarchs late in the fourth quarter of a 112-103 final.

The Griffins trailed by as many as 19 points, 46-27 (1:18. 2QTR), in the first half only to battle back in the second half behind the play of junior forward Haley Crossley (Warminster, Pa.) and senior guard Elise Sylvester (Pottstown, Pa.). The duo directed Gwynedd Mercy University on a 21-12 run that narrowed the spread to just 10 points, 58-48, just before the seven minute mark (7:04) of the third quarter. Unfortunately, Kings College reestablished their advantage to 18 points by the end of the quarter, 83-65. The story replayed in the fourth quarter as the Griffins again rallied, reducing the gap to 10 points once more with 4:17 left to play; 98-88. From there, a fastbreak layup from freshman guard Alexis Eagan (Drexel Hill, Pa.) cut the difference to its smallest, 100-94 (2:17), before the Monarchs hit enough of their closing free throws to close the contest with a nine-point advantage.

Crossley finished with 27 points on 10-of-13 (.769) shooting performance and a 7-of-9 (.778) success rate from the free throw line. She completed her double-double with a team-high 11 rebounds and complimented it with an assist, a block, and a steal. Sylvester was equally as dangerous with 21 points, two rebounds, seven assists, and four steals. Eagan (12 points), junior guard Kelly Owens (Schwenksville, Pa.) (13), and sophomore guard Lynzie Eggers (Turnersville, N.J.) (11) also finished in double figures.

Gwynedd Mercy University returns to the Griffin Complex on Friday, November 12, when they host Penn State Lehigh Valley, Messiah University, and Salisbury University for the Gwynedd Mercy Tip-Off Tournament.