The Misericordia University women's basketball team advanced to the ECAC Quarterfinals for the second straight year with a 71-61 win over Mt. St. Mary, Wednesday night in the Anderson Center.

Quintessa Zamolyi scored a career-high 26 points and Rachel Carmody added 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds as the Cougars improved to 17-10.

Kayla Cleare led Mt. St. Mary with 15 points and shared the team lead with eight rebounds.  Jessica Rini added 12 points and eight rebounds and Jordyn Hellpap added 12 points for the Knights, who ended the season 21-7.

Zamolyi sandwiched a pair of three pointers around a three from Kalynn Sefcik as the Cougars grabbed a 9-2 lead just two minutes into the game.

Hellpap scored five points in a three-minute span as Mt. St. Mary battled back to pull even, 13-13.  Zamolyi's foul line jumper put MU in front for good, 15-13, with 3:15 left in the first quarter.

Zamolyi drilled a three-pointer from the right corner and Carmody followed with a three from the left wing to key a 12-0 run that stretched the MU lead to 30-17 with 3:32 to play in the second quarter.

Japriya Carroll beat three Mt. St. Mary defenders to give Misericordia a 34-19 lead with 1:06 left in the first half.

A free throw by Katie Smith a jumper by Rini cut the Knights' deficit to 34-22 at halftime.

Zamolyi opened the second half with a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Cougars their biggest lead of the night, 40-22.

Hellpap's three-pointer and jumpers by Bridget Kelly and Rini keyed a 7-0 run for Mt. St. Mary to the margin to 45-39 late in the third period and the Knights got within 50-47 early in the fourth.

Zamolyi again came to the rescue for the Cougars with a three-point play and a three-pointer from the top of the key for a 57-50 lead with 3:17 to play.

Hellpap hit another three for the Knights to get within 54-50 with 2:59 to play but the Cougars answered with six straight points over the next two minutes to take a 63-53 lead.

Misericordia will play Lebanon Valley, Friday at 2:00 at Washington & Jefferson.