GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Gwynedd Mercy advanced to the CSAC Championship game with their 92-84 semifinal win over Rosemont Wednesday night at The Griffin Complex.
The top-seeded Griffins (20-6) will face Neumann here on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.
Junior
Cedric Elleby led five starters in double figures, scoring a game-high 30 points as GMercyU (20-6) will make its seventh appearance in the conference title game.
Darnell Artis netted 16 points,
Brian Hennessey totaled 15,
Julian Hyden added 14, and
Aaron Morgan kicked in 11. Artis and Hennessey each dished out six assists.
Prior to the game, Gwynedd Mercy University President, Dr. Kathleen Owens along with Adrienne Mullikin of the Colonial States Athletic Conference presented head coach
John Baron and his family the proceeds raised from the #PlayForJaylenAndJP benefit held earlier this month. The CSAC and its 12 member institutions united to collect donations on February 6th to help of one of our own, head coach
John Baron and his children, Jaylen and JP. With overwhelming support, and the participation of other local schools and organizations who collected donations, the CSAC collected a total of $6,200 for the Baron family. On behalf of the CSAC and the Baron Family, we wish to give thanks to all who contributed to this worthy cause.
Gwynedd, who led by 10 at halftime, would get their lead to 15 off a three-pointer from Hennessey early in the second stanza. The Ravens would knock down the deficit to six (55-49) only to see the advantage get back to a 69-54 Griffin lead at the midway point of the half.
Rosemont would not go quietly, rallying behind an 11-0 run over a three-minute span to get within 69-65 with 7:09 to play. Morgan would hit a big triple with 4:12 left and follow that up with two points at the free-throw line to give Gwynedd a 77-67 edge with just over four minutes to go. The Ravens gave it one last push as two Jamier Hughes free throws made it an 84-78 game with 1:09 remaining.
The Griffins were able to hold off Rosemont, by going 8-for-10 at the line down the stretch to move on to the championship game.
Hughes finished with 18 points and 12 boards, both team highs, off the bench. Marcus Thomas added 16 second-half points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists.
Game Notes: The six assists for Hennessey enHwere a career high...After shooting 43% in the first half, GMercyU went 58% in the second...Rosemont did not have a lead the entire game.
