GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Gwynedd-Mercy grinded out a 68-59 victory over DeSales on Saturday afternoon at the Griffin Complex for their third-straight win. Freshman Jess Rotella (Clifton Heights, Pa./Archbishop Prendergast) led the Griffins (5-3) with a season-high 22 points and added seven rebounds and five steals to help shake off a rough first half for GM.

Gwynedd, also had contributions by senior Bryn Cotteta (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) with fifteen points, six rebounds, and four assists. Sophomore Nicole Dougherty (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland) contributed ten points off the bench going a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe.

The Griffins had struggles early on, shooting just 20% (6-of-30) from the floor in the first half but forced thirteen DeSales turnovers to only find themselves down 25-24 at the half. The Bulldogs would take their largest lead of the game at the 3:43 mark of the first half (23-16) on a Cherelle Simmons lay-up. GM however used a six-point swing on a jumper by Rotella and four free throws from Cotteta to cut the lead to one at the break. Cotteta earned the two extra trips to the line after she made a defensive swipe at midcourt on the inbound and was fouled with just four ticks on the clock.

Rotella's bucket to open the second helped Gwynedd gradually claw away from the Bulldogs. GM took their largest lead of the game at 15 (56-41) with 7:01 left. DeSales would get within five with just over four minutes, but the trio of Dougherty, Cotteta and Rotella all knocked down crucial free throws in the last minute of the contest to help ice the victory for the Griffins.

For the contest, GM was 32.8% shooting (19-of-58) and made 27-36 free throws. DeSales shot 33.3% (21-of-63) making six three pointers and 11-17 from the charity stripe. The Bulldogs (4-4) where led in scoring by Sondrine Glovas who scored 15 on the contest.  Alexiah Grant and Cherelle Simmons added 11 and 10 respectively.

The Bulldogs outrebounded the Griffins, 46-43.  DeSales had eight rebounds apiece from Simmons and Colleen Gavin. The Griffins were led by sophomore Taylour Alston (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) who pulled down nine boards and added five blocks, four points and three assists. As a team, GM totaled nine blocks for the second game in a row.

The Griffins will return to action next Saturday when they will host Montclair State tip off slated for a 2 p.m. start.