EMMITSBURG, Md. - Sophomores Sandra Andresson (Tallinn, Estonia/Audentes School) and Courtney Nyce (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) sparked a 13-5 run in the final four minutes to lead Mount St. Mary's past Canisius 55-51 in the women's basketball season opener for both teams on Saturday.

With the game tied at 50, Andresson scored on a driving layup to give the Mount (1-0) the lead for good with 2:36 remaining. Nyce, who helped fueled the decisive run with five of her career-high seven points in the final four minutes, increased the advanced to four points on a basket in the paint with 1:48 left on the clock and the Golden Griffins (0-1) could get no closer the rest of the way. Andresson matched her career-high with 13 points. The sophomore also scored 13 points in last year's meeting with Canisius in Buffalo.

Hassanah Oliver posted 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Leah Westbrooks (Dublin, Ireland/Holy Faith Secondary School) registered four points, eight rebounds and five steals in the winning effort.

Ellie Radke fueled the Golden Griffins with 17 points and six rebounds, and Brittane Russell chipped in 10 points in the winning effort.

Mount St. Mary's took the advantage in the closing minutes and never looked back to earn its second-straight season opening victory. The home team has won all five meetings in the series.

Trailing 46-42, Lauren Howell (Quinton, N.J./Sacred Heart) nailed a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to one point with 4:01 remaining. Nyce then converted the frontend of two free throws with 3:30 on the clock to tie the score at 46 before the sophomore gave the Mount (1-0) a two-point advantage after hitting a pair at the line 15 seconds later.

Russell knotted the game at 48 on a basket in the lane, but missed the chance at a three-point play at the 2:36 mark. Andresson then gave the Mount the lead for good on a driving layup with 2:36 remaining before Nyce scored in the paint at the 1:48 mark for a 52-48 advantage. Russell answered by hit 1 of 2 at the line, but Oliver increased the Mountaineer advantage to 54-49 on two charity tosses with 22 ticks on the clock. Russell hit two free throws with 11 seconds left, but Mary Dunn (Whippany, N.J./Morris Catholic) sealed the Mount's first season-opening win in Emmitsburg since the 1992-93 season with a free throw with 10 seconds remaining

Mount St. Mary's opened the contest with an 11-5 run in the first six minutes of the game sparked by four points from Andresson. Freshman Selina Mann (Gainesville, Va./Battlefield) capped the run with a 3-pointer on her first collegiate shot attempt at the 14:04 mark.

The Golden Griffins rallied to take a 22-17 advantage. Ashley Durham paced Canisius with eight points in the stretch with Radke adding five points during the 17-6 spurt. The Golden Griffins went into the locker room with a 24-21 advantage.

Radke scored four of the first six points to start the second half to hand Canisius a 28-23 advantage with 18:48 remaining. The Mount responded with a 10-2 run to grab a 33-30 advantage with 15:49 left. Oliver contributed five points during the run.

The two teams wrestled for the lead for the next seven minutes. After Dunn handed the Mount a 42-40 edge at the 7:17 mark, Radke and Micayla Drysdale combined for the next six points to take a 46-42 margin. Howell then hit a 3-ball and Nyce tied the game at the free throw line before Andresson and Nyce scored back-to-back baskets in the paint to lead the Mountaineers to victory.

The Mount is now 2-1 in season openers under head coach Bryan Whitten. Mann and Jamie Halloran (Clarks Summit, Pa./Abington Heights) each made their collegiate debut in the contest. Mann posted five points, three steals, two rebounds and an assist in 20 minutes while Halloran registered a rebound in three minutes of action.

Mount St. Mary's returns to action on Wednesday at Duquesne. Game time is 7 p.m.