Griffins Sweep AEC Women’s Basketball Weekly Awards; Crossley Scores Top Player, Eggers Earns Defensive Honor
Lancaster, Pa. – (1/17/2022) – After leading Gwynedd Mercy University in recent league wins over Neumann University (W, 95-80 on January 12) and Immaculata University (W, 95-91 (OT) on January 15), junior forward Haley Crossley (Warminster, Pa.) and sophomore guard Lynzie Eggers (Turnersville, N.J.) were respectively selected as the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Player and Defensive Player of the Week. Crossley averaged 29.0 points per game (PPG) and 12.0 rebounds per game (RPG) to record a pair of double-doubles, while Eggers made nine steals in addition to her two-game averages of 27.0 and 6.0 rebounds per game. This is Crossley’s third appearance on the league’s weekly report and her first at the top player. Meanwhile, Eggers has now appeared on four AEC weekly reports; this is her first recognition as the top defender.
Gwynedd Mercy University (9-7, 3-0) scored the first nine points, 9-0 (7:41), of Wednesday night's 95-80 AEC victory over Neumann University (4-8, 0-1) and relinquished the lead to the Knights for only a couple minutes at the end of the first quarter, 19-17 (2:00), before a buzzer-beating three pointer from sophomore guard Ava Casale (Sewell, N.J.) triggered the Griffins offense for a game-defining second frame. The Griffins hit 11-of-18 (.611) from the field in the pivotal second quarter and forced 28 Knight turnovers to overcome a 38-29 rebounding deficiency. Crossley recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 25 points and a dozen (12) rebounds in excess of two blocks and five steals. But, Eggers led the Griffins in scoring with a career-high 32 points. Eggers made three (3-of-8, .375) of her nine (9-of-20, .450) field goals from long range and made 11-of-13 from the free throw line while grabbing six rebounds, handing out two assists, and making a team-high six steals.
Midway through the overtime period of Saturday's AEC contest at Immaculata University (9-3, 2-1), the Gwynedd Mercy University made a critical stand (83-82, 2:45), forcing a shot clock violation and capitalizing on it with a layup from Crossley (85-82, 2:39) that propelled the Griffins to a 95-91 triumph over the rival Mighty Macs. Crossley finished with her seventh double-double of the season thanks to a season-high 33 points and a dozen (12) rebounds; she was 11-of-15 (.733) from the field and 10-of-13 (.769) from the free throw line. Eggers supported with 22 points, six rebounds, and three steals.
Gwynedd Mercy University continues their AEC schedule today, Monday, January 17, with a 6:00 p.m. tip-off at Cabrini University.
