The Misericordia University women's basketball team dropped their season opener to Arcadia, 56-45, Friday evening on Doc Mould Court.
 
Alyssa Bondi led the Cougars with 14 points while first-year guard Skyler Dowling added 13 points on 5-9 shooting, including 3-6 from three-point range, in her collegiate debut.
 
Elizabeth Fasti led the team with five rebounds while Gianna Delfino added six steals four assists.  Meaghan McCaffrey had six points on 3-6 shooting and added four rebounds.
 
Arcadia jumped out to a 13-0 lead to open the game before Dowling scored the Cougars' first basket of the season on a floater with 1:55 remaining in the first quarter.
 
The Cougars used a 10-0 run at the end of the first period to cut the deficit to 13-10. Delfino made two free throws and Bondi and Dowling followed with back-to-back three-pointers.
 
Arcadia extended their lead to 19-12 at the 8:46 mark of the second quarter and the Cougars never to cut the margin under six points the rest of the game.
 
Morgan Haefele stole the ball at mid-court and found Bondi for a layup to get within 41-35 with 8:05 to play, but the Knights answered with six straight points.
 
Misericordia (0-1) travels to Arcadia (3-0) for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off, Saturday.