GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Gwynedd-Mercy captured their sixth conference championship as the Griffins defeated Baptist Bible, 68-49, in the 2012 CSAC Championship Saturday night at the Griffin Complex.

Freshman Shea Wassel (North Wales, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) was named MVP as the forward totaled 14 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore Natasha Matthews (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) chipped in 11 points and senior Brittany Neill added 10 points as Gwynedd won the CSAC Title for the first time since the 2006-07 season. It was the team's 14th time in the conference championship.

A key 13-3 run midway in the second half helped turn an eight-point lead into double figures, and along with key defensive stops, paved the way to the victory.

Kacee Rava, the CSAC Player of the Year, had game-highs of 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Defenders (18-8) who were making their first championship appearance. Rava also added three blocks, but had nine turnovers. As a team, Baptist Bible committed 16 of their 26 turnovers in the first half.

Points were at a premium early on. Two Ruthie Butts free throws made it 4-4 five minutes into the contest. Gwynedd would score the next 11 points, kickstarted by a three-point play from Matthews, who used a pivot move in the paint to score and draw a foul. She would later scoop up a rebound off a three-pointer and putback off the glass to give GM an 11-4 lead with 11:02 in the period.

Butts would hit from downtown to get BBC down to three (17-14), but Gwynedd closed the half on a 10-2 run to lead 27-16 at halftime.

Senior Bryn Cotteta (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) opened the second half with a mid-court steal and uncontested fast break layup to bump the lead to 13.

Rava and Defenders stayed within arm's reach over the next seven minutes, whittling the GM lead to eight. Her jumper just outside the paint pulled Baptist Bible to 36-28 with 12:38 remaining.

The Griffins then put their foot on the gas, outscoring the Defenders over the next five minutes. Sophomore Jordan Dominic (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge) nailed a big three-pointer followed by a high-low bucket from Matthews off an assist from Wassel to put GM up 49-31 with 7:42 to play. From there, Gwynedd kept that double-digit cushion the rest of the way to help lock up another conference crown.

Butts finished with 10 points for BBC (18-8). Kelly Bargfeldt added 14 points and five assists.

Sophomore Taylour Alston (North Wales, Pa./North Penn) contributed eight points, nine boards, and two blocked shots. She helped GM win the battle of the boards, 41-37.

After shooting just 31.4% (11-of-35) in the first half, Gwynedd rebounded by going 55.2% (16-of-29) from the floor in the second and finish at a 42.2% clip for the game. GM held the Defenders to just 6-of-21 (28.6%) in the first en route to a 30.2% team performance on the night.

The Griffins (20-7) will earn the CSAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament, their eighth appearance in the big dance. They'll find out who and where they will play on Monday as the NCAA will release the pairings. Check back then to find out all the information.