Gwynedd Valley, Pa. (Dec. 19, 2016) - Gwynedd Mercy University (4-5) shot 44 percent from the field in a 74-61 victory over Alvernia University (0-10) Monday evening in non-conference women's basketball action at Gwynedd Mercy.

The Crusaders jumped out to an early lead, using back-to-back 3's from Maya Cooper and Abbie Zerbe to take a 10-3 advantage three minutes into the contest. However Gwynedd Mercy found its rhythm two minutes later, posting a 15-3 run through the remainder of the first quarter.

The Griffins kept the hot hand in the second quarter, outscoring the Crusaders 19-13 to hold a 39-27 lead at the half.

Alvernia shot 45% from the field in the second half, bettering Gwynedd Mercy in the third quarter 15-14 to stay within 11 of the Griffins, 53-42. Liv Andrefski notched 5 points in the quarter, while Miranda Hoover and Cooper each added 4.

The Crusaders exchanged buckets with the Griffins through the start of the final quarter as Cooper drained Alvernia's first nine points of the quarter to cut the deficit to nine at 60-51 with six minutes remaining. Cooper tacked on another jumper before Kiersten Ingram recorded the Crusaders final eight points.

Cooper led the way offensively for Alvernia, collecting a career-high 23 points. Ingram added 13, going 3-for-3 from the arc, and Andrefski picked up 11.

Charlotte Kucowski was the top scorer for the Griffin with 33 points.

The Crusaders return to action after the holiday, traveling to New York for the Lehman College tournament on December 29^th and 30^th. Alvernia opens the tournaments against York College on the 29^th at 1:00 pm.