GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – The Neumann University Women's Basketball team took to the road to open Atlantic East Conference play, picking up a 63-60 win over Gwynedd Mercy University on Wednesday evening.
 
The Knights got off to a hot start over the first three minutes of the game with an 8-0 run capped off by a Terea Tourk jumper. Gwynedd Mercy would fight right back, picking up 10 of the next 12 points to temporarily take the lead before Hannah Asaka banked home a layup for a 12-11 advantage after one quarter.
 
After trading a couple of buckets each over the first five minutes of the second, Neumann went on a tear. They would score 16 of the next 21 points, including an 11-0 run keyed by a Jacqueline Wardrop three-pointer. With that offensive outburst, the Knights took a 32-20 lead into the halftime break.
 
The third quarter started as a back-and-forth affair with Neumann extending the lead to 14 with five minutes remaining in the period. It continued to be a quiet offensive quarter as neither team really asserted much dominance, and Neumann maintained the 14-point advantage heading into the final quarter.
 
With 7:26 remaining, and Neumann leading by 15, the Griffins pulled off their biggest run of the game. Over the next 3:41, they scored 10 straight points to pull within five, with just under four minutes to play. After two Knights free-throws, Gwynedd continued to claw closer with a 5-0 run to close within two with 30 seconds left, but that's as close as they would come.
 
Lauren Klieber led the Neumann attack with a game-high 24 points, aided by going 8 for 10 from the free throw line. She added eight rebounds along with an assist and a block. Tourk followed with an eight point, six rebound performance. Emily DuPont was a force in the paint with five blocks. She added six points and three assists. Bri Gautier came off the bench and led the team with five assists while adding six points and three steals.
 
Neumann(11-4, 1-0 Atlantic East) returns to action this weekend as they continue their current three-game road stretch against Centenary University.