GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – The Neumann University women's basketball team dropped an 81-74 decision in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) opener at Gwynedd Mercy on Monday evening.

Jessica Schlesman led four Knights in double-digits with 16 points and added 11 assists for a double-double. Emily Lyons netted 15 points, hitting five shots from beyond the arc. Latisha Johnson added 13. Holly McKaig notched 10 points and nine rebounds.

The Griffins got off to a hot start, scoring the games' first 10 points. Schlesman put the Knights on the board with a three-pointer.

Neumann started to make a move toward the end of the first half, getting to within five, 34-29, with 1:44 on the clock. Gwynedd Mercy finished the half on a 9-2 run to take a 43-31 lead into halftime.

As the second half went on, the Knights would get to within a couple points, but could not get over the hump after the slow start. With 11:47 on the clock, Neumann was within three, 54-51, but Gwynedd Mercy answered with the next nine points for a 12 point lead.

The Knights would not give up and with one final push, they got to within five, 77-72, on a three-pointer by Johnson with 1:49 left in regulation. Neumann could not get any closer and Gwynedd Mercy came away with the 81-74 win.

Neumann (2-2, 0-1 CSAC) will travel to Eastern for non-conference post-Thanksgiving action on Saturday beginning at 1:00 PM.