The Misericordia University women's basketball team improved to 2-0 with a 73-69 win over Cortland in the opening round of the Rose City Classic, Friday at Drew.

The Cougars will play Drew in the championship game, Saturday at 3:00.

Alyssa Bondi led the Cougars with 21 points and Morgan Haefele added 19.  Elizabeth Fasti had 10 points and Gianna Delfino had nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

Melina Santacroce and Delfino made back-to-back baskets to put MU in front for good, 58-54, with 5:56 to play.

Three-pointers by Fasti and Morgan Haefele kept MU in front, 65-61, with 3:34 to go.

Bondi made five free throws over the final 21 seconds to secure the win.

Fasti and Bondi connected from deep as the Cougars jumped to a 13-7 lead late in the first quarter.  Delfino added a layup and a free throw from Skylar Dowling made it 16-7.  Cortland closed the period with a layup to cut MU's lead to 16-9.

Cortland rallied in a back-and-forth second quarter to pull within 28-26 at halftime.

The Red Dragons took their first lead, 30-28, early in the third quarter and went up by six midway through the period.

Haefele scored nine straight points over the next three minutes to give the Cougars a 39-37 lead with 3:54 to play.

Bondi drained a three-pointer in the final minute and Meaghan McCaffrey made a layup to give the Cougars a 47-43 lead after three periods.

After Cortland rallied to tie the game early in the fourth quarter, Bondi assisted on baskets by Santacroce and Delfino.