NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (December 29, 2025) – With a 40-25 lead in the third quarter, it looked like money in the bank for Mount St. Mary's women's basketball to pick up a fifth straight win. But a relenting press from Merrimack helped the Warriors rally as the home side took the lead in the fourth and the game, 60-56, on Monday afternoon.
The Mount is now 6-6 on the season and 2-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
Gabrielle Kennerly finished with 18 points to lead the team, and
Berlynn Carlson earned double figures with 11 points.
Erin Edmonds made her first career start and impressed with career highs of 10 points and nine rebounds.
HOW THE GAME UNFOLDED
- Merrimack forced 10 Mount turnovers and earned seven offensive rebounds in the first quarter. Still, they struggled to convert that into points and held a 14-12 edge heading into the second period.
- Teodora Ivanovic finished a layup with 3:52 remaining before halftime to give the visitors the lead. It helped spark a 10-2 run pushing the Mountaineers to a 29-22 lead at the break.
- Mount stormed out of the gates to begin the second half and scored 11 of the next 14 points. Free throws by Alana Powell with 6:41 left in the third quarter.
- The Warriors' rally was almost instantaneous after that high water mark. They would overcome the double digit deficit over the last three minutes of the third, with foul shots from Paloma Garcia equaling the score at 45 in the closing seconds of the quarter.
- Lydia Melashanko drilled a three-pointer to give the Warriors' 50-47 lead – their first since the opening quarter. Oralye Kiefer put them up for good at the 52-50 mark with 4:35 left.
NOTEWORTHY ITEMS
- The last time the Mount surrendered a lead of 15 or more was December 2024 at Mercyhurst. They would go on to win that game in overtime.
- The defeat snaps a four-game win streak for the Mountaineers.
- Mount St. Mary's is now 5-2 all-time against Merrimack.
UP NEXT
Staying on the road, Mount St. Mary's challenges Siena on New Year's Day at 2 p.m. in Loudonville.