GWYNEDD-MERCY USES BIG SECOND HALF RUN TO HAND KING\'S WOMEN FIRST LOSS
WILKES-BARRE -- Visiting Gwynedd-Mercy College used a 29-5 run midway through the second half to turn a five-point deficit into a 66-51 victory over host King\'s College in a non-conference women\'s college basketball contest Monday in Scandlon Gymnasium.
With the win Gwynedd-Mercy, a 2006 NCAA Division III national tournament qualifier, improved to 2-1 while King\'s slipped to 4-1 with its first defeat of the season.
Both King\'s and Gwynedd would struggle offensively in the first half as the teams entered the locker room locked in a 24-24 tie. King\'s would build a 39-35 lead with 10:00 remaining on a basket by Lauren Kendra, but Beccie Strohecker ignited Gwynedd with back-to-back three-pointers to give the Griffins a 41-39 advantage with 8:25 left. Karen Tierney would follow with a basket to give Gwynedd a 43-29 lead, but Andrea Hochstuhl hit a three-pointer to bring the Lady Monarchs within 43-42 with 7:42 left in the contest.
Karen Tierney and Kristy Cramp would hit consecutive treys for the Griffins to build a 49-44 lead. After King\'s Sarah Darling made a pair of foul shots, Cramp hit another three-pointer to spark a 12-0 run as Gwynedd took a 60-44 lead with 3:05 remaining in the contest.
Tierney scored a game-high 22 points, including 14 in the second half while Cramp scored 12 of her 15 points during the final 20 minutes of play. Ashley Vandiver contributed nine points, seven rebounds, and four blocks while Strohecker finished with eight points. Katie McGinn chipped in with six points and seven rebounds.
King\'s was led by Jenna Palumbo with 17 points, but the Lady Monarch sharpshooter was held scoreless over the final 13:03 of play. Kendra added nine points, eight assists, and six rebounds while Hochstuhl followed with nine points and eight boards.
Both teams shot poorly from the field. Gwynedd-Mercy made 31.7 (29-63) percent for the game, but managed to overcome a 17.6 (6-34) first half shooting effort. King\'s, meanwhile, made just 30.9 (17-55) from the floor.
The Lady Monarchs, who have faced four 2006 Division III national tournament qualifiers during their first five games, will face another major challenge when the top--ranked University of Scranton ventures to Scandlon Gym Wednesday for a 6:00 p.m. contest.