UNION, N.J. -- Gwynedd-Mercy fell to Kean, 96-74, in the season opener for both teams to kick off the 2011-2012 season. The Cougars who held a 61-39 advantage at halftime were led by leading scorer Naimah Clemons scoring 22 of her game high 30 in the first half.

The Griffins were able kept pace with the Cougars in the second half with both teams scoring 35 points apiece. Gwynedd-Mercy was led by senior guard Bryn Cotteta (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) scoring 18 points and adding three assists. Senior Guard Brittany Neill (Woodlyn, Pa./Archmere Academy Del.) scored 11 points connecting on two three pointers and dishing out four assists.

Gwynedd-Mercy shot 44.3% for the game (27-of-61) and 4-for-18 from behind the three point arc.  The Griffins finished the contest 16-25 from the charity stripe. The Griffins' bench contributed as sophomore forward Natasha Matthews (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) scored 10 points and pulled down four rebounds. Freshman forward Shea Wassel (North Wales, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) recorded nine points in her college debut also collecting three steals.

Kean shot 49.3% from the field shooing 35-71 and 7-17 behind the three point line. The Cougars were 19-26 from the free throw line. Clemons shot 12-14 from the field and 4-6 from downtown. Kean had two other players also in double digit scoring with Simone Smith netting 16 and Noel Mathis adding 12 to pace the Cougars (1-0).

The Cougars outrebounded the Griffins, 48-29. Neill led GM (0-1) with five boards. Erika Jones had seven for KU.

Gwynedd-Mercy will look to bounce back hosting Lycoming College at 8 p.m. Friday night in their annual GMC Tip-off Tournament.