EMMITSBURG, Md. (February 3, 2022) – Mount St. Mary's women's basketball used a strong second quarter to pull ahead of the homestanding Merrimack Warriors. Holding their own on the defensive end in the second half, they coasted to a 68-58 victory at Hammel Court Thursday.
 
Graduate student Kendall Bresee registered her 1,000^th career point with foul shots at the 2:25 mark of the fourth quarter. That total combines her points between playing at George Washington and the Mount. The fifth-year player ended with a game-high 17 points on 5-for-10 shooting and seven free throws. She added nine rebounds, five assists and drew 10 fouls.
 
Kayla Agentowicz added 14 points in a 6-for-9 shooting effort with six rebounds. Isabella Hunt and Michaela Harrison posted double figures in the triumph.
 
Merrimack saw Kate Mager score nine points to lead the Warriors, and Teneisia Brown chipped in eight points and nine boards.
 
The Mount's win, combined with a loss by Saint Francis U, forces a three-way tie for third place in the Northeast Conference with the Red Flash and Wagner at 6-5. Merrimack fell to 4-6 in league play.
 
The Warriors pounced on the early lead, building a 6-0 run before Harrison registered the first Mount bucket – a three-pointer. Pounding away at the advantage, the Mountaineers caught up with an Aryna Taylor three at the 3:22 mark and grabbed their first lead on a Hunt layup. The sophomore made up seven of the team's 22 points to manage a four point edge.
 
A 7-0 Mount run sparked by five points from Taylor skyrocketed the visitors' lead up to 13 towards the final minutes of halftime. Merrimack trimmed it back to nine, but as the clock wound down, Agentowicz hit a trey at the horn to put the game at 43-31 as the teams headed to the locker rooms.
 
Both teams struggled to shoot in the third period, as each side hit 29 percent. Benefiting from five foul calls and five offensive boards, the Warriors drove into the advantage and a Mayson Kimball jumper pulled the contest to five.
 
There were no made baskets in the fourth until Jessica Tomasetti hit a jumper in the paint with 7:53 left. Providing a spark, the Mount bolted proceedings back to an 11-point game, which was enough to withstand one final Merrimack run. Jayme DeCesare drove home a triple to make it a 59-54 contest before the Mountaineers cemented the win with Bresee free throws, a Hunt layup and a dagger three from Harrison.
 
Mount St. Mary's stays north, stopping over in Rhode Island to try and earn a season sweep of the Bryant Bulldogs. Tip-off is 1 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 5) from the Chace Athletic Center.