Philadelphia, Pa. – (10/11/2022) – The Gwynedd Mercy University women's basketball team approaches the 2022-2023 season with baited breath as milestones and a chance at history await. As the four seed, the Griffins concluded the 2021-2022 season opposite #2 Immaculata University for the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Championship. This year, a battled-tested starting five comprised of seniors Haley Crossley (Philadelphia, Pa.), Kelly Owens (Schwenksville, Pa.), Cayla Sharkey (Lansdale, Pa.), Elise Sylvester (Pottstown, Pa.), and junior Lynzie Eggers (Turnersville, N.J.) look for redemption. On the way, they will have plenty of opportunities to put their mark on history as major achievements and another shot at an AEC Championship awaits.
 
The 2022-2023 Gwynedd Mercy University women's basketball season begins on Tuesday, November 8 with a trip to King's College (PA) (7:00 p.m.). This marks the second straight year the Griffins and Monarchs kicked off each other's seasons. Last year, King's College won the initial meeting as they matched the Griffins' up-tempo game plan in an eventual 112-103 final. Crossley finished the affair with 27 points on 10-of-13 (.769) shooting performance and a 7-of-9 (.778) success rate from the free throw line. She completed her double-double with a team-high 11 rebounds and complimented it with an assist, a block, and a steal. Sylvester was equally as dangerous with 21 points, two rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
 
Three days later (Nov. 11), the Griffins welcome Delaware Valley University, the University of Scranton, and William Paterson University to the Griffin Complex for the 2022-2023 Gwynedd Mercy University Tip-off Tournament. On Friday night, Gwynedd Mercy University and the Aggies will get the action started with a 6:00 p.m. tip. The contest will be followed by an 8:00 p.m. game between the Royals and Pioneers with a consolation game (12:00 p.m.) and championship game (2:00 p.m.) scheduled for Saturday, November 12. The Griffins only faced William Paterson University in 2021-2022, losing to the Pioneers 75-65 in their second game at Lycoming College's Hoops of Hounds Tournament.
 
On November 15, Gwynedd Mercy University hosts Arcadia University for the Battle of 309. The Griffins defeated the Knights in last year's Battle as Crossley (21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 2 steals) and Sharkey (11 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks, 3 steals)  powered a second-half rally that held the home team to four fourth-quarter points in an eventual 79-64 conclusion.
 
The non-conference schedule continues with November games at Wilkes University (7:00 p.m. on Nov. 17) and Penn State Berks (6:00 p.m. on Nov. 29) then open December with a home game versus Salisbury University (7:00 p.m. on Dec. 5) and travel to Albright College (7:00 p.m. on Dec. 7) and John Jay College (2:00 p.m. on Dec. 10), before returning to the Griffin Complex for a December 17 (1:00 p.m.) contest with Rowan University. The Griffins defeated both the Colonels (W, 89-76 on Dec. 18, 2021) and Nittany Lions (W, 83-55 on Nov. 30, 2021) last year, but will look for revenge versus the Lions (L, 62-78 on Dec. 4). 2022 concludes with a pair of games at the Catholic University Tournament (Dec. 19-20) and a December 30 (2:00 p.m.) trip to The Palestra where the Griffins will battle local National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I rival, the University of Pennsylvania.
 
The New Year brings league play as the conference calendar brings Immaculata University to campus on January 4 (6:00 p.m.), Marywood University on January 11 (6:00 p.m.), Cabrini University on January 21 (1:00 p.m.), Marymount University on February 1 (6:00 p.m.), Neumann University on February 11 (1:00 p.m.), and Centenary University (N.J.) on February 15 (6:00 p.m.). The reciprocal dates send the Griffins to the Saints on January 7 (TBA), the Knights on January 18 (6:00 p.m.), the Cyclones on January 25 (6:00 p.m.), the Mighty Macs on January 28 (TBA), and the Cavaliers on February 18 (TBA).
 
Gwynedd Mercy University was 7-5 in AEC last season as they enjoyed a 95-91 overtime victory over Immaculata University (Jan. 15), series splits with Cabrini University (W, 67-53 on Feb. 5) and Marywood University (W, 60-54 on Feb. 16), and series sweeps of Centenary University (W, 93-63 on Jan. 8/W, 80-61 on Feb. 7) and Neumann University (W, 95-80 on Jan. 12/W, 78-61 on Feb. 2). As the #4 seed in the AEC Championship Tournament, the Griffins first defeated #5 Neumann University (W, 74-73 on Feb. 21) and #1 Marymount University (W, 70-59 on Feb. 23), before succumbing to Immaculata University (L, 57-70 on Feb. 26) in the title bout.