Box Score ANNVILLE, Pa. - Mount Saint Mary College freshman Kristina Nieves (Fair Lawn, N.J.) hit a right-handed hook shot with less than three seconds to play to allow the Knights to claim a 63-62 victory over Gwynedd-Mercy College in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.  MSMC will play in the second round tomorrow at 6:00 p.m.

Gwynedd-Mercy senior Bryn Cotetta scored the first five points of the contest as the Griffins jumped out with a quick 5-0 lead. Back-to-back free throws by Mount senior Jen Mocanu (Belford, N.J.) made it a one point game, 5-4, but the Griffins responded with a 5-0 run.
 
Another three-pointer by Cotetta pushed the Griffins on top by 12, 33-21, with less than a minute to play in the first half. Mocanu converted two more free throw attempts in the closing minute, but the Knights still trailed by 10, 33-23, at the break.
 
A layup by Gwynedd-Mercy sophomore Taylour Alston (North Wales, P.A.) gave the Griffins a commanding 14 point lead with just under thirteen minutes to go and it looked as if the Knights' fate was sealed. Mount senior Amanda Horvers (Kingston, N.Y.) stepped up for the Mount and knocked down a three-pointer to bring the Knights to within nine, 46-37, with 12:17 showing on the clock.
 
Trailing by two, Mocanu nailed two from the free throw line to knot up the game, 50-50, with over six minutes to go. After the Griffins erupted for a 9-2 run to reclaim the lead, Nieves and Mocanu combined for six points and with 1:39 on the clock the Knights once again tied things up, 59-59.
 
Gwynedd-Mercy freshman Shea Wassal (North Wales, P.A.) and freshman Jess Rotella (Clifton Heights, P.A.) put the Griffins back up by three, after converting free throw attempts in the final minute. With her team down by three, the 2012 Skyline Conference Player of the Year lived up to her billing, as Mocanu hit a jumper to bring the Knights to within one, 62-61.
 
With just 43 seconds remaining on the clock, Rotella missed a jumper and the Mount collected the defensive team rebound. Mocanu dished the ball to Nieves who then drained a right-handed hook shot for the win.
 
The Mount outscored the Griffins, 40-29, in the second half, while shooting a hot 45.95-percent from the field. Mocanu led the Knights with 30 points and 10 rebounds. Nieves finished with 12 points and 7 boards and Horvers just missed the double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds.
 
Cotetta scored a team-high 18 points and Alston chipped in with 13 points an 8 boards. Wassel led the Griffins on the glass with a team-high nine rebounds.
 
The Knights will face the winner of the Lebanon Valley College vs. Vassar College game. Game time is set for 6 p.m. tomorrow at Lebanon Valley College.