GETTYSBURG, PA. – Gwynedd-Mercy kicked off 2013 with a win as the Griffins posted a 70-66 win over Salisbury at the Days Inn Tournament hosted by Gettysburg College Wednesday night.

Sophomore Shea Wassel (North Wales, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) paced the offense with game highs of 20 points and 19 rebounds. She was one of four Griffins in double figures to help GM advance to the championship game tomorrow against the host Bullets, who were winners over Alvernia, in a 4 p.m. tip.

Juniors Nicole Dougherty (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland) and Lauren Smith (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) added 15 and 13 points respectively while sophomore Natasha Matthews (Norristown, Pa./Norristown) chipped in 11.

Two free throws from Wassel gave the Griffins (7-3) their largest lead of the half (22-10) at the 8:48 mark. The Sea Gulls answered with 12-straight points over a five minute span to tie things up. A bucket from Dougherty and a three-point play from Wassel helped restore a five-point edge. Matthew's layin right before the buzzer at the break put GM up 34-24 at halftime.

In the second, Gwynedd was able to keep Salisbury in check for most of the stanza before the Sea Gulls made a run to pull within three with just over a minute to play, but the Griffins were able to ice the win with free throws at the line.

Anna Hackett and Maggie King each poured in 12 points each. Aleisha Hobbs led SU (5-6) with 14 points and 13 boards.

Wassel's 19 rebounds, along with her five assists, were a career high. Dougherty dished out a team-high seven assists while Smith tacked on five steals. As a team, GM shot 41.8% (28-of-67) from the floor.