HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. -- With their 69-63 win at Centenary on Saturday, Gwynedd Mercy secured one of the two first-round playoff byes for the CSAC Tournament. A close contest that saw seven ties, five lead changes, and neither team have a lead larger than nine points, the Griffins (19-4, 13-1 CSAC) used key scoring runs to hold off the Cyclones.

Junior Charlotte Kucowski and sophomore Julianna Hoisington each carded a game-high 18 points. Kucowski and junior Nicole Dombrowski each registered double-doubles as the pair totaled five of the team's eight blocked shots. Dombrowski grabbed 13 boards, a career high, and added 10 points and tied a personal mark with five assists while Kucowski chipped in 13 rebounds and three blocks.

Ally Fugnitti led the Cyclones (13-10, 8-6 CSAC) with 17 points as she hit five of the team's seven three-pointers.

In the first, the Griffins led 10-6, only to see Centenary score the final 10 points of the quarter and lead 16-10 after one. Gwynedd came alive in the second, as they connected on three three-pointers. Hoisington's triple game GMercyU a 19-18 lead and was part of a 13-2 run. Kucowski's longball gave Gwynedd its largest lead of the game 29-20 with 1:56 before the half. The Cyclones would cut it to two, but two free throws from senior Chandler DiFebbo with seconds remaining put Gwynedd up 32-28 at intermission.

The third saw the Griffin lead get no larger than five points as the period featured two ties and two lead changes. Gwynedd would hold a 47-45 edge heading into the fourth.

Gwynedd would build on their lead in the final quarter to lead by as much as 64-55 with just over three minutes in the contest. A three-point play got the Cyclones within six and later a three from Fugnitti with 19 seconds made it a 66-63 contest. Hoisington would get fouled on the ensuing possession and hit one of two from the line for a four-point lead. Centenary would miss on a three where Dombrowski secured the rebound, was fouled, and hit both her tries to account for the final score.

Game Notes: It was Kucowski's 11th double-double this season...She also had 12 three-point attempts, which tied a career-high...The eight team blocks tied a season-high...Centenary had the highest opponent free throw percentage of the season (90%).

The Griffins host Rosemont on Wednesday on Senior Night in a 7 p.m. tip. They will then close out the regular season next Saturday at Marywood, which potentially could decide the top seed for the playoffs.