Gwynedd Valley, Pa. - (11/12/2021) - Junior forward Haley Crossley (Warminster, Pa.) led six players in figures with 26 points as the Griffins opened the Gwynedd Mercy University Tip-Off Tournament with a 109-99 victory over Penn State Lehigh Valley (1-1). Crossley finished with 26 points thanks to a 7-of-14 (.500) effort from the field and a 11-of-13 (.846) clip from the charity stripe. She also grabbed eight rebounds, made an assist, and grabbed four steals. She was joined in double figures by junior guard Kelly Owens (Schwenksville, Pa.) (18 points), sophomore guard Ireland Smith (Philadelphia, Pa.) (15), junior forward Cayla Sharkey (Lansdale, Pa.) (14), sophomore guard Lynzie Eggers (Turnersville, N.J.) (12), and freshman guard Alexis Eagan (Drexel Hill, Pa.) (11). Junior guard Elise Sylvester (Pottstown, Pa.) was the one helping everyone find open shots as she offered 10 assists in excess of two points, seven rebounds, and four steals.

Gwynedd Mercy University (1-1) paced the Nittany Lions through the first quarter, but allowed a late rush from the visitors to trail by a narrow 24-23 measure at the end of the first quarter. The story replayed itself in the second quarter as the Griffins lead to a 44-43 (1:00) spread before Penn State Lehigh Valley scored the last three points of the half, 46-43. A step behind at the start of the second half, the Griffins rallied behind Eggers for a 75-68 third-quarter edge. Gwynedd Mercy University kept their lead for the duration of the final frame, increasing their lead to as many as 13 points, 87-74, on an Owens jumper at 8:13 and letting the Nittany Lions cut the margin to a few as three points, 92-89 (4:30), before the contest concluded on a ten-point, 109-99, Griffin decision.

Gwynedd Mercy University returns to the Griffin Complex tomorrow, Saturday, November 12, for a 2:00 p.m. championship game versus Messiah University. Penn State University and Salisbury University will square of in a noon (12:00 p.m.) consolation contest.