GLENSIDE, PA. -- Arcadia took down Gwynedd Mercy, 64-58, in the season opener for both teams in the second annual 'Battle of Route 309' Tuesday evening.

The Griffins came close in climbing out of a 14-point hole in the third quarter, but came up on the wrong side of the score.

Julianna Hoisington led GMercyU with 16 points and a career-high eight rebounds, Charlottle Kucowski also reached double figures with 15 points and added 12 rebounds for a double double.

Bianca Adams got the Griffins on the scoreboard first with her bucket to put Gwynedd up 2-0 to start the game. Hoisington and Larissa Leyes each hit a three pointer midway through the first to lead 10-8. To close out the quarter Leyes and Chyanne Fine combined for three free throws for the 13-12 lead after one. Kucowski and Nicole Dombrowski each had four rebounds in the quarter.

A Kucowski bucket stretched the lead to 15-12 to start the second. Hoisington gave GMercyU their largest lead 19-15 but Arcadia would respond with a 7-0 run capped by a pair of back-to-back three pointers for a 22-19 edge. Down 24-21 Kucowski connected on a three-point play after a fastsbreak steal. Her free throw would tie the game at 24-24 heading into the halftime break.

The Griffins would take a 27-26 lead in the third on a Hoisington three ball but Arcadia would respond with a pair of scoring runs. Ultimately a 20-5 spurt would give the Knight a 46-32 lead with 3:12 in the stanza. Trailing by fourteen in the late third Gwynedd got a spark from an Alison Szyszko three point play followed by a pair of three pointers from Hoisington and Kucowski. A fast break layup by Kucowski would cut the lead to four 47-43 as part on an 11-1 run, but the Knights tacked on two free throws to lead 49-43 at the end of the third.

In the fourth, Hoisington would cut the lead to 49-45 and knock down a three pointer to trail 53-48. After Arcadia responded with a lucky bank shot as the shot clock expired, Monet McGorda would cut the lead back to four (55-51) with her only trey of the evening.

Down four (60-56) and forcing a turnover to get the ball back, the Griffins had a key chance to get it within one possession. With just under 30 ticks left, Adams' drive through traffic in the lane did not fall. The rebound was corralled by the Knights, who would then hit 4-of-6 chances at the free throw line to hold off the Griffins.

For the game the Griffins shot 20-of-65 (30.8%) while Arcadia was at a 18-of-49 (36.7%) clip.

The Knights had four starters in double figures led by Susan Bossler with a team-high 17 points.

Last season, the Griffins would rally and score a big 69-63 win in the inaugural game of the series that pits the two local universities in a matchup for early season bragging rights.

Gwynedd will return back to action on Friday when they will host Misericordia at 8 p.m. in their home opener as part of the Residence Inn by Marriott Tip Off Tournament. Friday's first game features The College of New Jersey taking on Salisbury at 6 p.m.