Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (11/5/2024) – "We will be a much faster team than we have been recently. We have some potential and some fight in us," opened Gwynedd Mercy University Head Women's Basketball Coach
Keith Mondillo. "We will be developing our ability to work as a team and looking to get better every day. Our non-conference schedule will help prepare us and we intend to be playing out best basketball heading the conference tournament at the end of February." With just two upperclassmen on the roster, Coach Mondillo and his staff will use the Red and Gold's speed, tenacity, and toughness to guide them on his 29
th season on the sidelines.
Late-season league wins over Centenary University (NJ) (W, 66-64 on Jan. 31) and Marywood University (W, 77-46 on Feb. 14) earned Gwynedd Mercy University a 2-8 conference record and the fifth seed for the 2023-2024 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Basketball Championship Tournament. An AEC First Round matchup at #4 Centenary University (Feb. 19) ended the Griffins' season on a 66-58 final; the result was a 9-17 overall record and a 2-8 AEC standing. One of five starting seniors, guard
Lynzie Eggers '24 enjoyed a historical swan song with her second All-AEC Second Team selection serving as the exclamation point for a season that saw her record her 1,000th career point (W, 69-63 vs. Albright College on Dec. 6) en route to the fifth highest single-season point total (5th, 500) and the fourth highest career point total (4th, 1,318) in program history.
The 2024-2025 Gwynedd Mercy University women's basketball team will look much different as senior forward
Alexis Eagan (Drexel Hill, Pa.) serves as the only remaining Griffin from the Red and Gold's last AEC Championship appearance (L, 57-70 @ #2 Immaculata University on Feb. 26, 2022). She and junior guard/forward
Erin Eisenhart (Bethlehem, Pa.) will serve as captains to the upcoming season. Eagan was Gwynedd Mercy University's top reserve (26.3 minutes per game) last season as she finished with career-highs in points per game (7.7 PPG), rebounds per game (6.7 RPG), assists per game (1.9 APG), blocks per game (0.2 BPG), and steals per game (1.6 SPG). Eisenhart joined her off the bench for 5.0 PPG and 4.1 RPG alongside 23 assists, eight blocks, and 25 steals. She recorded a career-high 11 rebounds on three different occasions (Nov. 10, Nov. 21, Nov. 30) with her third such performance including a career-high 14 points. "Alexis has the highest basketball IQ of any player I've ever coached. She is a consistent threat from three-point range, but Erin can shoot it too," said Coach Mondillo. "She's versatile. Her play can significantly impact our play on both side of the ball."
Gwynedd Mercy University also returns three sophomores who were critical to the team's 2023-2024 success; guards
Angelina Balcer (Philadelphia, Pa.) and
Leah Harrington (Horsham, Pa.), and forwards
Azzy Crumpton (Conshohocken, Pa.). "This group is very important," stated Coach Mondillo. "Angelina has exceptional speed and you can't sit back because she isn't afraid to shoot. Leah plays with grit and she can surprise you with her shot if you don't respect it. And Azzy is great too, she will be our most consistent rebounder and her length and athleticism will anchor our post defense." Balcer and Crumpton were mid-season transfers and valuable reserves; the former provided 36 points (3.6/game), seven rebounds (0.7), 19 assists (1.9/game), a block (0.1/game), and a dozen (12) steals (1.2) in just 10 games, while the latter provided 22 points (1.7/game), 28 rebounds (2.2/game), two assists (0.2/game), four blocks (0.3/game), and four steals (0.3/game) in just 13 contests.
Coach Mondillo's newcomers include a sophomore transfer from East Stroudsburg University – guard
Alyssa Cresto (Newark, Del.) – and eight freshmen; guards
Peyton Attivo (Middletown, Del.),
Kailyn Bell (Ridley Park, Pa.),
Alexis Kanzinger (Bala Cynwyd, Pa.),
Emma Krawczindiuk (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.), and
Brianna McFadden (Fairless Hills, Pa.), as well as forwards
Frannie Boyle (Newtown, Pa.),
Truly Heft (East Greenville, Pa.), and
Lana Savage (Townsend, Del.). "Everyone will get their chance to the court this season and I think everyone can contribute." Coach Mondillo continued, "Alyssa is a great shooter and she should be able to score from the perimeter. Kailyn can direct play and our new post players offer size and strength that we haven't had in years."
The 2024-2025 women's basketball season gets underway on Friday, November 8, when the Griffins welcome Muhlenberg University, DeSales University, and Penn State Berks to campus for the Gwynedd Mercy University Tip-Off Tournament. The Griffins are scheduled to open the event with a 6:00 p.m. tip-off opposite the Mules and conclude it on Saturday, November 9, with a 2:00 p.m. tip-off against the Bulldogs.
