The Misericordia University women's basketball team defeated Salisbury, 85-76, in the first round of the Hilton Scranton Poinsettia Classic, Wednesday night at Scranton.
 
Tessa Zamolyi led the Cougars with 30 points and six rebounds.
 
Erica Haefele added 16 points and Emma Hayes had 11 points and five rebounds.
 
Gianna Delfino had a team-high 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Cougars improved to 9-0 and advanced to the title game against Scranton, Thursday at 7:00.
 
MU shot 50% (31-62) from the field and 45.8% from beyond-the-arc (11-24).
 
The Cougars never trailed after opening the game on a 10-4 run. Haefele got the Cougars started with a three-pointer and Zamolyi followed with a layup on the next possession.
 
After leading by four at the end of the first quarter, MU went on a 9-2 run to begin the second quarter.
 
Zamolyi hit a three to begin the second quarter and Delfino and Jordan Barth followed with layups on the next few possessions to give the Cougars a 27-20 lead.
 
With 7:22 remaining in the third quarter, Zamolyi hit a three-pointer which was followed by another Haefele three-point shot.
 
The Cougars ended their highest-scoring quarter when Elizabeth Fasti hit a three-pointer with :16 left in the third quarter.
 
The Sea Gulls outscored the Cougars by seven in the fourth quarter, but their comeback came up short as Misericordia prevailed by nine.